The Cariboo Regional District says residents of nearly 500 properties east of 100 Mile House are now in ``an immediate danger to life safety'' from the 17-square kilometre wildfire south of Canim Lake, one of more than 300 blazes currently burning in BC.

The district has issued evacuation orders for properties spread over almost 263 square kilometres of backcountry in the Cariboo region.

An evacuation was also ordered this morning for more than one thousand properties on both sides of Highway 97 south of 100 Mile House as flames near Flat Lake have scored more than 10 square kilometres.

The same fire has also closed Highway 97, the main north-south link in BC but Drive BC says a lengthy detour is available via Highways 5 and 24.

Environment Canada issued the special air quality statement, warning of the smoke for the next few days in areas stretching from the Interior north to Yukon and east to the Alberta boundary.

Four areas in the province also remain under a heat warning, including the Fraser Canyon where the village of Lytton was destroyed by fire last month, with daytime highs predicted of up to 38 C.