‘All clear’: Evacuation alert issued over illegal B.C. dam rescinded

The Thompson-Nicola Regional District issued an "all clear" Oct. 10, days after 14 properties downstream from the Fadear Lake dam were put on evacuation alert.

An evacuation alert issued over concerns that an illegally constructed dam near Kamloops, B.C., could burst has been rescinded.

The Thomspon-Nicola Regional District issued the “all clear” Friday afternoon, while noting that an evacuation alert or order could be issued again should conditions change.

The rescinded alert was for 14 properties located along Fadear Creek, downstream from the unauthorized Fadear Lake dam.

When the alert was issued on Oct. 6, B.C.’s Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship warned the dam could be at “risk of imminent failure,” which would have sent a torrent of water from the lake into the creek.

According to the district, a couple culverts within the gravel dam had been blocked, causing the lake level to rise. Officials were unable to say who had built the dam as of last week, calling the situation “unusual.”

With files from CTV News Vancouver’s Todd Coyne