A wildfire near the village of Slocan City in B.C.'s Southern Interior is moving and fire officials ordered three families to leave their homes on Wednesday evening.

Officials said the Springer Creek fire is now within 100 metres of the nearest structure. Another 11 homes remain on evacuation alert.

Firefighters continue to combat the Springer Creek fire on Wednesday, both in the air and on land.
(CBC)

Another four homes in the rural community of Argenta are also on evacuation alert. The Hamil Creek fire is about one kilometre away from the nearest home there.

Meanwhile, about 3,000 customers in the Southern Interior of British Columbia are without power Wednesday — raising concerns for local water supplies — after a wildfire damaged a wooden transmission structure.

Affected areas include Burton, Nakusp, Needles and New Denver.

BC Hydro spokeswoman Jennifer Walker-Larson said the power will be out for at least the next two days, because the Arrow Lake Penstock fire is burning along a major power line.

Carol Gordon, a spokesperson for the Village of New Denver, said the lack of power could have serious implications for the local water supply.

"The village's well pumps are being run by generators and are struggling to keep the water high enough to be effective in the case of a fire," Gordon told CBC News.

"Anyone seen watering a lawn or a garden or washing a car will have their water shut off at the main," she said, adding that it's crucial that people conserve water until the power is back on.

BC Hydro said in a press release that the wood pole transmission structure was operated by the BC Transmission Corporation.

With files from the Canadian Press