VICTORIA (NEWS 1130) – High winds in southern BC’s interior over the weekend are expected to spark forest fires in already hard-hit communities, and the province is warning against traveling to some areas if space is needed for evacuees.

On Friday afternoon, provincial officials urged British Columbians to stay away from Armstrong, Spallumcheen, Okanagan Indian Band Land, Enderby and parts of the North Okanagan county.

“If you are thinking of visiting there, don’t do it. If you are a tourist in this area, leave now, ”said Public Safety Secretary Mike Farnworth.

“At the same time, we also make people aware that evacuation warnings and orders may be issued and that people must obey them.”

CONNECTED: Biggest BC Forest Fires That Probably Burn “Until It Snow”: Province

More than 6,200 objects have already been evacuated because of the threat of fire, while the residents of around 27,000 objects have been put on evacuation alarms in order to be able to leave them. On Thursday, the entire Logan Lake community – with a population in excess of 2,000 – was ordered to leave the country.

Farnworth encouraged people to travel to places where they would not be a “drain on local resources” and noted that travel to the central Okanagan is discouraged due to the rising COVID-19 cases in the area.

Travel warning for parts of the interior in effect #BC including the parishes of #Armstrong, #Spallumcheen, Okanagan Indian Band, #Enderby & Parts of the northern regional district #Okanagan. More info: https://t.co/bdZZmYKt8I #BCwildfire pic.twitter.com/ZWKfTjZ8SH

– Emergency info BC (@EmergencyInfoBC) August 13, 2021

“Direct danger to life and safety”: wildfire service

According to Cliff Chapman, director of provincial operations for the BC Wildfire Service, winds of up to 30 km / h are expected on Saturday and 60 km / h by Sunday.

“The potential impact of this predicted weather is a direct threat to life and property,” he said.

“When these winches arrive, they will trigger aggressive fire behavior. In the central and southern interior of the country, it is currently very hot and dry because we were in a heat wave. “

Windy conditions mean that existing fires can intensify, fire fighting efforts become more difficult and there is a risk that spot fires could be triggered by “embers”, said Clifford.

“We proceed with the utmost caution and ask anyone in the area of ​​a fire to do the same.”

Fires have already burned more than 662,000 hectares of land, 268 are currently active. The fire at White Rock Lake, which burns between Vernon and Kamloops, is still one of the largest and most difficult at 58,000 acres – more than five times the size of the city of Vancouver.