8,000 Forced To Evacuate

Tue., Aug. 11, 1998

About 400 firefighters battled a forest fire Monday that prompted the evacuation of about 8,000 people from Salmon Arm in south-central British Columbia.

Completed early Monday, it was believed to be the largest fire-related evacuation ever in the province, involving more than half of Salmon Arm’s residents.

The province’s premier, Glen Clark, declared a state of emergency for the town and surrounding district late Sunday, giving authorities sweeping powers to order people out.

Countering the 20-square-mile fire were 300 civilian firefighters, 100 soldiers and a fleet of water-bombing helicopters and planes.

Salmon Arm city streets were largely deserted by Monday except for emergency workers. Police said they would not forcibly remove remaining homeowners unless they impeded firefighting efforts.

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