UPDATE: 2:16 p.m.
Highway 97 in the area of Thursday’s fire has now fully reopened.
CLEAR – #BCHwy97 17km north of Vernon has been cleared due to structure fire. The highway is FULLY OPEN.#VernonBC
— DriveBC TOK (@DriveBC_TOK) June 4, 2021
UPDATE: Work on fire site continues into second day, delays on highway Jun 4, 2021 | 8:00 AM
A fire site in Spallumcheen is a lot quieter today, but still smoldering, as firefighters monitor the area to make sure a hot spot doesn’t spread into the wildland.
https://www.facebook.com/kevinb.mcken/videos/304995061172443
Thursday’s blaze damaged Mardan Lumber Sales with provincial and local fire crews battling it from the ground and the air.
The B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS) said the fire, which is now under control, reached four hectares in size, and the cause is under investigation, but believed to be human caused.
“All of our fires are suspected human caused until otherwise proven not, just because there is either lightning or human caused and there was obviously no lightning in the area, but it’s under investigation,” Madison Smith, fire information officer with BCWS told Vernon Matters.
There were no injuries reported.
That part of Highway 97, between Tonasket and Grandview Flats Road, will be single lane alternating traffic all day as BC Hydro works at the site.
Drive BC’s next update is scheduled for 4 p.m.
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UPDATE: Fire contained to mill site, highway reopens Jun 3, 2021 | 4:50 PM
Highway 97 in fire area has reopened to single lane alternating traffic.
UPDATE – #BCHwy97 OPEN 17km north of Vernon – reduced to single lane alternating traffic due to structure fire. https://t.co/ixOdo7JKNt #VernonBC
— DriveBC (@DriveBC) June 3, 2021
UPDATE 3:00 p.m.
The B.C. Wildfire Service says an industrial mill fire north of Vernon near Tonasket Road is now 1.5 hecatres in size, with 25 provincial firefighters on site and numerous local departments.
The fire is still classified as ‘out of control,’ but contained to the industrial site, and it hasn’t spread to other properties.
“Due to the toxicity of the fire, our crews have put a sprinkler system on the east side to help with suppression,” Madison Smith, fire information officer with the BCWS, told Vernon Matters.
Smith said the air tankers have finished dropping retardant on the scene, but two helicopters continue to drop water.
More from the scene of the Spallumcheen industrial site fire today. @BCGovFireInfo said no reports of any injuries. At last word fire was considered 1.5 hectares. Spallumcheen is now describing fire as contained. pic.twitter.com/FnUILDSfOn
— Megan Turcato (@meganturcato) June 4, 2021
People in the area who said they saw lots of black smoke earlier in the fire fight, now say they are not seeing hardly any.
Drive BC says Highway 97 is closed in both directions between Grandview Flats Rd North and Tonasket Rd (17 km north of Vernon). There is a detour southbound via Hwy 1 to Salmon Arm then Hwy 97B to Enderby. Detour northbound via Hwy 97A to Armstrong to Hwy 97B to Salmon Arm.
Click here to see video of the fire courtesy of Global News.
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UPDATE: Wildfire service attacks fire from ground & air, Highway 97 closed Jun 3, 2021 | 12:15 PM
The B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS) says a fire at an industrial property north of Vernon is burning out of control.
Vernon Matters has confirmed the fire is at a sawmill between Tonasket and Grandview Flats roads, about 17 kilometres north of Vernon.
“It is currently 0.6 hectares in size,” Madison Smith, fire information officer with BCWS , said.
Smith was not aware of if the fire had spread to the nearby area, but she said there were four BCWS personnel on site, with more expected, and several local fire departments are on site assisting.
She said air tankers have been dropping retardant on the property and a helicopter will be joining the effort soon, to drop water.
The fire is burning adjacent to Highway 97, which is closed in that area until further notice, with a detour in effect.
The Township of Spallumcheen has activated its level one emergency operations centre as a precaution.
Fire at mill on Highway 97. (Submitted photo/Rob Ellis)
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UPDATE 11:30 a.m Crews respond to mill fire, Highway 97 closed Jun 3, 2021 | 11:30 AM
Highway 97 is closed in both directions between Spallumcheen and Falkland due to a fire.
Crews have been battling a sawmill fire near Grandview Flats Road and Tonasket Road, 17 kilometres north of Vernon.
Emergency vehicles are on the scene, and Drive BC says a detour is in effect until further notice.
Reports say the fire has spread to a property south of the lumber site.
UPDATE #BCHwy97 – The highway remains CLOSED at Tonasket Rd. just north of #VernonBC. Detour now in place via #BCHwy1, #BCHwy97A, and #BCHwy97B. Assessment in progress. For more info please visit: https://t.co/iJTfxjtAs2 #ArmstrongBC #Kamloops
— DriveBC TOK (@DriveBC_TOK) June 3, 2021
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Crews respond to mill fire off highway Jun 3, 2021 | 10:56 AM
Crews are dealing with a major fire just off Highway 97 in Spallumcheen.
Reports say a sawmill is on fire just past the former race track, heading towards Falkland.
Big plumes of thick, dark smoke could be scene around the area.
Fire off Highway 97 (Submitted photo/Rob Ellis)
