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UPDATED: Evacuation order issued for Nelway, alert issued for Shambhala Festival

The McCormick Creek wildfire has jumped the Salmo River and is moving east
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Red indicates evacuation order, yellow indicates evacuation alert

A new evacuation order has been issued for the Nelway area, while an evacuation alert has been issued for the Shambhala Music Festival.

The BC Wildfire Service reports that the McCormick Creek wildfire has jumped the Salmo River and is moving east towards the community of Nelway.

LIVE: Shambhala Music Festival spokeswoman Britz Robins talks about the wildfire evacuation alert now in place for the area. Read more here: http://www.nelsonstar.com/news/nelway-ordered-to-evacuate-alert-issued-for-shambhala/

Posted by Nelson Star News on Saturday, 12 August 2017

The fire is now an estimated 250 hectares in size and is behaving unpredictably, BC Wildfire Service says.

Those being evacuated are being directed to the Salmo Community Centre.

The area under evacuation includes:

• Bear Rd

• Pend D’Oreille Rd

• Rosebud Lake Rd

• Talbot Rd

• McCormick Creek Rd

• 8 Properties on Highway 6

All affected properties are being visited by the RCMP to ensure this information is being delivered to property owners.

The thousands of music lovers at the Shambhala festival need to be ready to leave at a moment’s notice.

Road Closures

Highway 6 is closed in both directions from the Canada/US border to the junction with Highway 3 because of the MCCormick Creek fire. DriveBC reports that a detour is available via Highway 3 through Creston.

In addition, public access is restricted along Pend D’Oreille Road from the Seven Mile Dam at Waneta east to the international border.

Boat access restricted

Due to boaters interfering with aircraft fighting the McCormick Creek fire, the BC Wildfire Service is restricting boat access on the Pend D’Oreille River effective immediately.

The restrictions will remain in place until the public is otherwise notified.

“In order for wildfire suppression activities to continue safely and effectively, the public must stay out of active fire areas,” said a press relase from Karlie Shaughnessy, fire information officer for the BC Wildfire Service.

Violaters can receive a fine of $1,150 or an administrative penalty of up to $100,000.

With files from Betsy Kline