The blaze at EC Manning Provincial Park was estimated at 400 hectares on Saturday morning. The Heather Lake Fire in Washington State’s Okanogan Wenatchee National Forest is believed to have been sparked by lightning, according to an online update from the BC Wildfire Service. “The fire exhibits aggressive fire behavior,” the update continued, noting that it will be highly visible to any travelers driving along Highway 3. An online update from BC Parks says some trails and facilities south of Highway 3 have been closed and the user has been told to evacuate. Otherwise, thick, dense smoke also permeates the premises. A detailed map is available online. “In the interest of public safety, BC Parks is providing this notice to visitors. Fire crews are actively monitoring and may be working in the area. Should fire conditions change, visitors to this park may receive a limited evacuation notice .” says the website. The sprawling 83,671-hectare park has over 300 kilometers of hiking trails and nearly 400 campsites. It sees almost a million visitors every year. An evacuation notice is in effect for Manning Park Resort, which has the capacity to accommodate hundreds of guests in its campgrounds, lodge and cabins. The resort is also a popular location for large events such as weddings. The resort is not operated by the provincial government. “There is no immediate threat to visitors at this time,” according to a social media post, saying the alert is a “precautionary measure.” However, visitors are being warned of nearby trail closures and are being asked to prepare for the possibility of being ordered to leave. The resort’s general manager, Vern Schramm, told CTV News that the high heat, low humidity and wind Friday night were responsible for how quickly the fire spread. “It’s a park that has a lot of fuel. But, you know, it’s like any other area in the province — the conditions are what determine the aggressiveness of the fire,” he said. Guests arriving on Saturday are advised that there is an alarm but that the fire service has assured staff that there is no immediate danger to guests, staff or resort infrastructure. If an evacuation is ordered, Schram says there is a detailed plan for how to execute it in a safe and timely manner. “There will be plenty of warning that it won’t be sudden.”
There are currently no closures on HWY 3 and there is no immediate danger to visitors at this time. As a precautionary measure, Manning Park Resort and front country campgrounds have been placed on evacuation alert. Click below for more info pic.twitter.com/WzGXyT9OI3 — Manning Park Resort (@Manningpark) September 3, 2022
