Campers abandoned their belongings and fled on foot while police evacuated nearby homes after a wildfire near the Kootenay Boundary town of Rock Creek roared through the surrounding area on Thursday.

About 200 campers ran from the Kettle River Recreation Area — some with nothing more than the clothes on their backs — leaving their vehicles and trailers behind stated government sources.

Meanwhile, police helped residents evacuate farms and homes in and around Rock Creek, Westbridge and up the Christian Valley, according to Bernard and the Grand Forks RCMP detachment.

The fire was first spotted on the west side of the Kettle Valley River at 1:35 p.m.

The fire was driven by wind gusts of 15 to 20 kilometres per hour then “jumped not only a highway but a river,” Bernard said. It then pressed north toward the campground and homes.

Temperatures in the area reached about 39 degrees Thursday, with very little humidity in the air, she said.

Staff at the Rock Creek Fairgrounds — located south of the fire — offered room for farmers needing to evacuate livestock in the area.

Power is out in many areas.

Highways 3 and 33 were closed indefinitely, according to DriveBC.