No return date yet for Village of Clinton evacuees

Key Facts

Evacuation date: July 24
Pear Lake wildfire size: 115,250 hectares
French Bar Creek wildfire size: 37,106 hectares
Rim Lake wildfire size: 4,577 hectares
Properties under evacuation order: More than 1,800
Clinton population: 650 residents

Background

The Village of Clinton was evacuated on July 24 in response to the Pear Lake wildfire. As of Tuesday, August 4, the fire is estimated at 115,250 hectares and is listed as Out of Control.

Two other wildfires are also burning near Clinton: the French Bar Creek wildfire to the west, estimated at 37,106 hectares, and the Rim Lake wildfire to the east, estimated at 4,577 hectares. All three are listed as Out of Control.

More than 1,800 properties in the Village of Clinton and Thompson-Nicola Regional District Area 'E' are under evacuation order, with more than 200 properties on alert. The Cariboo Regional District also has evacuation orders and alerts in place for the Pear Lake fire.

Current Situation

Clinton Chief Administrative Officer Brian Doddridge says safety is the top priority when deciding when the village's 650 residents can return. 'The actual fire itself has to come to the point where it's no longer posing an immediate threat.'

Doddridge notes that while some services and infrastructure do not have to be fully restored for people to return, many factors must be considered. 'It's about trying to find a balance between people's need to go home and what services they need.'

Power and water quality are major considerations. The village's water treatment plant appears intact, but the re-energization process will determine water quality. 'We'll have to look at ash in the reservoir, and erosion in the watershed,' Doddridge said.

Wildfire sizes and status
Wildfire	Size (hectares)	Status
Pear Lake	115,250	Out of Control
French Bar Creek	37,106	Out of Control
Rim Lake	4,577	Out of Control

Sizes as of August 4, 2026.

Impacts

Safety of public spaces, including downed trees and power lines, is a concern. 'Highway access is a huge one: we have to make sure there are stable egress routes, because there's the potential for more fires given the time of year,' Doddridge said.

Critical services such as ambulance, waste management, and transit must be in place. 'Taken alone, these things aren't enough to warrant keeping people from their homes, but together they can be unsafe and not conducive to supporting civilisation.'

Doddridge added that some supports are no longer available when an evacuation order is lifted, which could impact vulnerable people. 'We have to set a benchmark where if people are allowed to return they're not at risk due to lack of infrastructure.'

Future Outlook

Scenario analysis: The possibilities below are not certain predictions.

The Village of Clinton is working with the Thompson-Nicola Regional District on a resiliency centre for when people return. Doddridge says the recovery team is looking at what people will need and how it can be supplied.

Plans may include inviting non-governmental organizations and insurance companies to answer questions, and ensuring people are aware of waste disposal options, especially for fridges and freezers.

If the fires remain out of control, the return date could be further delayed. If conditions improve and infrastructure is restored, residents could return in the coming weeks. However, no estimated date has been provided.

Source: hopestandard.com

AMRIT EXPLAINER