The view from Mount Kobau includes plenty of smoke from the Snowy Mountain wildfire, which expanded on Saturday. (Vanessa Broadbent photo)

The Snowy Mountain wildfire has increased in size and BC Wildfire recommends the Regional District Okanagan Similkameen (RDOS) implement a precautionary evacuation alert for the Cawston and Keremeos areas.

“There is the potential for burning embers to float several kilometers, sparking fires along the valley bottom. Ash and thick smoke is already visible in the Similkameen due to wildfires in the area,” the RDOS said.

The RDOS Emergency Operations Centre is expanding a precautionary evacuation alert to 481 additional properties due to the threat of the Snowy Mountain wildfire.

No properties have been evacuated at this time and residents may stay in their homes.

This precautionary evacuation alert includes all homes south and west of Highway 3 from 1143 Highway 3, south of Cawston, to the Fas Gas Plus service station at 3163 Highway 3, west of Keremeos.

This includes selected homes within Electoral Area “B”, Electoral Area “G” and the Village of Keremeos closest to the Snow Mountain wildfire.

The Lower Similkameen Indian Band is also issuing evacuation alerts for their band members and residents.

A precautionary evacuation alert has been issued to prepare residents to leave their premises or property if needed. In the event an evacuation order is issued, residents may have limited time to leave and should get prepared now. Information on how to prepare is available here.

This is the second large scale Evacuation Alert for the south Similkameen Valley this year. This May, 1250 properties along the Similkameen River were placed on advisory Evacuation Alert due to potential flooding.