The 1,500 residents of 100 Mile House are the latest forced out of their homes by raging wildfires in the southern and central Interior of B.C.

That brings the total number of evacuees to more than 8,500.

But emergency officials predict that number will likely rise as gusty winds and hot, dry conditions continue to fan the flames of more than 220 fires that have destroyed an area covering at least 230 square kilometres.

Fire officials took residents from 195 Missezula Lake properties to safety via a road closed by fire at 2 a.m. local time to take advantage of the coolest part of the day.

Mark Sutherland of the Ashcroft Indian Reserve west of Kamloops said yesterday he had only seconds to escape with his girlfriend and two young children before flames overtook his home.

Most of the homes on the reserve were destroyed by the Ashcroft wildfire while the mayor of 100 Mile House says the fire burning near his community is zero per cent contained.