Approximately 2,000 people in the Village of Ashcroft have been told to be ready to leave their homes at a moment’s notice, after an evacuation alert was put into place at noon Friday for the entire community, about 100 kilometres west of Kamloops.

The warning comes with officials forecasting smoky skies across much of B.C. as over 300 fires burn across the province, with more expected in the days ahead.

Cliff Chapman with the B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS) said Thursday the province appeared to be “on the precipice of a very challenging 72 hours” with hot and dry weather, dry lightning and strong winds forecast.

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