Update: Dousing Hot Spots At Patterson Creek Fire

Update: 12 pm Aug 14:

Fire fighters are still working on that fire that broke out near Highway 97A in Spallumcheen last Thursday.

Armstrong-Spallumcheen Fire Chief Ian Cummings says they’re chasing down and extinguishing hot spots.

“All over the interior, centre, edge. We’re just trying to keep it inside the containment area. We build a guard around the fire and we work in the black and try and keep it from igniting.”

Sunday’s rain helped a bit, but he expects crews to be there for through the week.

“It was minimal. It didn’t hurt us at all, put it that way. Any rain is good but it’s going to take a lot more than that to really affect us.”

There is no word yet on how the fire started.

“Wildfire had a couple of investigators up on the weekend looking at some stuff. We just haven’t pinpointed it yet. So, it’s still being worked on.”

Crews from the BC Wildfire Service helped through the weekend.

Help is also there from fire departments in Enderby, Lumby and BX.
Update 3 pm:

The emergency operations centre in Spallumcheen is standing down for the weekend, pending any changes to the status of the Patterson Creek wildfire.

“At this time, the interface wildfire situation is stable and there are no further updates to report,” says a release from the township.

“Any changes to the status of the wildfire situation and the emergency operations will be communicated to the media and through the Township’s website at www.spallumcheentwp.bc.ca.”

Fire crews will continue to monitor the fire throughout the weekend.

Hutley Road South will remain closed to all traffic. Hutley Road North and Head Road are local traffic only. RCMP patrols will be in the area.

For more information visit the Township’s website at www.spallumcheentwp.bc.ca or call 250-546-3013.

Update: 12 pm

The evacuation alert for about 200 homes in Spallumcheen has been rescinded.

The township says the interface wildfire on the hillside east of Highway 97A is 4.3 hectares in size and not growing.

“Fire crews have managed to create a machine guard around 98% of the fire and wet lines are around the entire perimeter,” says a release.

As a result of the progress, the evacuation alert covering about 200 homes has been lifted in the following areas:

• Twin Firs Mobile Home Park

• Eagle Rock Mobile Home Park

• Belva’s Mobile Home Park

• Meadow Ridge Mobile Home Park

• McLennan Road

• Keddleston Road

Hutley Road South will remain closed to all traffic. Hutley Road North and Head Road are local traffic only. RCMP patrols will be in the area.

Should there be no changes to the status of the interface wildfire situation the next press release will be issued at 3 pm.

Update 11 am:

The wildfire in Spallumcheen is still active, but crews have been able to keep it from growing beyond 4.3 hectares.

Armstrong-Spallumcheen fire chief Ian Cummings says local firefighters, along with a half dozen BC Wildfire staff, are dousing hot spots and bolstering containment lines.

“We got a guard around most of the fire, and wet lines surrounding it. We have had some fire activity, but it hasn’t gotten outside the guard area,” Cummings tells Kiss FM.

Cummings estimates the nearest homes are about a kilometre away.

The cause is under investigation, but stared on a hillside in an area where there wasn’t a road.

“Haven’t really had a lot of time (to investigate the cause). Wildfire is also here to assist with that so we’re working on it jointly.”

An evacuation alert remains in effect for four mobile home parks and for homes on Keddleston and McLennan Roads, with the Township of Spallumcheen expected to issue another update sometime around 12 pm.

Update 10 am

Good news on the Patterson Creek fire in Spallumcheen.

Firefighters spent the night tightening up guards and dousing hot spots to prevent its spread.

Max Birkner with the BC Wildfire Service says they have a good handle on it.

“The fire is being held, which means under the current conditions it is not expected to get any larger. It is 3.9 hectares in size and we have 6 firefighters out there as well as two origin and cause personnel and of course members of the Armstrong fire department that are working on it.”

Meanwhile, the evacuation alert for four mobile home parks in the region and homes on McLennan Road and Keddleston Road remain on evacuation alert.

Another update from the Township of Spallumcheen is expected after 12 pm.

Update 9 am:

The township of Spallumcheen says the evacuation alert connected to the Patterson Creek Fire will remain in effect until further notice.

“The interface wildfire, located on the hillside east of Highway 97A, is currently approximately 4.3 hectares in size. The Fire Crews were on the scene throughout the night, and reported there was no new growth. Fire Crews will continue to battle the fire today and are making excellent progress on the fuel guard,” says a release from the municipality.”

Further details are included in the following news release from Spallumcheen:

PRESS RELEASE #4

AUGUST 11, 2017

Emergency Operation Centre Level 2 Activated INTERFACE WILDFIRE UPDATE

9:00 am

Please be advised that the Township of Spallumcheen has activated an Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) Level #2 at the Township of Spallumcheen Municipal office located at 4144 Spallumcheen Way in consultation with the provincial EOC (PREOC).

The interface wildfire, located on the hillside east of Highway 97A, is currently approximately 4.3 hectares in size. The Fire Crews were on the scene throughout the night, and reported there was no new growth. Fire Crews will continue to battle the fire today and are making excellent progress on the fuel guard.

To ensure the safety of local residents and members of the Fire Crew, HUTLEY ROAD SOUTH will remain closed to all traffic until further notice. Hutley Road North and Head Road continue to be local traffic only. RCMP patrols will be in the area.

The evacuation ALERT will remain in effect until further notice for the following areas:

• Twin Firs Mobile Home Park

• Eagle Rock Mobile Home Park

• Belva’s Mobile Home Park

• Meadow Ridge Mobile Home Park

• McLennan Road

• Keddleston Road

Should there be no changes to the status of the interface wildfire situation and/or the evacuation alert notice, the next press release will be issued at 12:00 pm on Friday, August 11th, 2017.

For more information visit the Township’s website at www.spallumcheentwp.bc.ca or call 250-546-3013. Updates will be posted as more information becomes available

Update:7:30 am:

Firefighters from Spallumcheen along with a crew from the BC Wildfire Service kept a handle on the Patterson Creek fire overnight.

The fire broke out yesterday afternoon not far from 97A near the Hutley and Larkin Cross Road areas.

Retardant drops by Wildfire Service air tankers were instrumental in slowing the fires advance while ground teams battled it.

Armstrong-Spallumcheen Fire Chief Ian Cummings spent the night out there and feel’s confident they’ve held it.

“Yeah, it’s looking real good, but we’re going to need some time and manpower on it today for sure.”

In the meantime, an evacuation alert for four mobile home parks near the area and homes on McLennan Road and Keddleston Road remain in effect.

Hutley Road and Head Road are open only to resident traffic.

Update: 5:10 am:

An evacuation alert remains up for several properties in four mobile homes parks and homes on Mclennan Road and Keddleston Road in Spallumcheen because of yesterday’s wildfire.

The almost four hectare Patterson Creek Fire broke out yesterday afternoon not far off Highway 97A in the Hutley Road area.

It moved quickly in a southeasterly direction, but quick work by local firefighters and a retardant drop by the BC Wildfire Service help to get it under control by early evening.

A bucketing helicopter also worked until dusk flying out of Vernon Airport.

A ground team stayed through the night to keep watch over hot spots and there’s no word yet about any flare ups.

The Emergency Operations Centre in Spallumcheen says it will reassess the situation by 9 o’clock this morning.

Update: 7:30 pm:

PRESS RELEASE #3 from Township of Spallumcheen

Emergency Operation Centre Level 2 Activated INTERFACE WILDFIRE UPDATE

Please be advised that the Township of Spallumcheen has activated an Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) Level #2 at the Township of Spallumcheen Municipal office located at 4144 Spallumcheen Way in consultation with the provincial EOC (PREOC).

The fire is currently at approximately 4 hectares in size. Fire Crews continue to battle the fire from the air and the ground. Bucketing via helicopter will continue until dusk. Fire Watch will be on site throughout the night.

To ensure the safety of local residents and members of the Fire Crew, HUTLEY ROAD SOUTH will be closed to all traffic until further notice. Hutley Road North and Head Road continue to be local traffic only. RCMP patrols will be in the area.

Should there be no changes to the status of the interface wildfire situation and/or the evacuation alert notice, the next press release will be issued at 9:00 am on Friday, August 11th, 2017.

For more information visit the Township’s website at www.spallumcheentwp.bc.ca or call 250-546-3013. Updates will be posted as more information becomes available.

Update: 7 pm

Spallumcheen Mayor Janice Brown says barring any wind or flare ups tonight, the fire looks to be contained.

“The fire chief says they have a pretty good handle on it and the guards are all up,” Brown tells Kiss FM.

Brown expects the evacuation alert to remain in place at least until Friday when it will be reviewed by the township.

Update: 6:10 pm

Armstrong Spallumcheen fire chief Ian Cummings says the fire is mapped at 3.2 hectares, the weather is cooperating, and they are not seeing a lot of growth.

He hopes to get it 100 percent guarded shortly.

“We’ve got a dozer up here cutting guards. Things do change. It’s looking good now, but ten minutes from  now that could change, so we’re certainly not out of the woods, but I’m certainly feeling a lot better now than a half hour ago,” Cummings told Kiss FM.

Cummings says they had a fantastic response from their neighboring fire departments through the mutual aid and wildfire with their ground and air crews.

Evacuation alerts issued by Spallumcheen for three mobile home parks: Twin Firs, Eagle Rock and Meadow Ridge, along with residents on McLennan Road and Keddleston Road, remains in effect.

Those residents have to be prepared to leave on very short notice should the fire move in their direction.

Update: 5:15 pm

A wildfire that started in Spallumcheen this afternoon east of the highway in the Larkin Cross Road area is listed at 2.5 hectares in size.

It has been burning in a south easterly direction, so in the direction of the BX area, but the BC Wildfire Service says no homes are threatened.

Provincial and local crews are actioning the blaze from the ground and air.

Spallumcheen has issued an EVACUATION ALERT for the following areas including three mobile home parks: Twin Firs, Eagle Rock and the Meadow Ridge mobile home parks, along with McLennan Road and Keddleston Road.

Those residents have to be prepared to leave on very short notice should the fire move in their direction.

There is no word on the cause of the fire which was first reported around 1:45 pm.

Update:4:45 pm

PRESS RELEASE #1

AUGUST 10, 2017

Emergency Operation Centre Level 2 Activated

EVACUATION ALERT

Please be advised that the Township of Spallumcheen has activated an Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) Level #2 at the Township of Spallumcheen Municipal office located at 4144 Spallumcheen Way in consultation with the provincial EOC (PREOC).

The Township of Spallumcheen is managing wildfire interface issues and has limited access to the following areas:

Closed & Resident Traffic only:

HUTLEY ROAD (resident traffic only)
HEAD ROAD (resident traffic only)
An EVACUATION ALERT has been issued for the following areas:

Twin Firs Mobile Home Park
Eagle Rock Mobile Home Park
Belva’s Mobile Home Park
Meadow Ridge Mobile Home Park
McLennan Road
Keddleston Road
With this ALERT NOTIFICATION, affected residents should be prepared to leave on very short notice and perform the following steps:

Locate all family members or co-workers and designate a Reception Centre outside the evacuation area,should an evacuation be called while separated
Gather essential items such as medications, eyeglasses, valuable papers, immediate care needs fordependants and keepsakes
Prepare to move any disabled persons and/or children.
Prepare to move  pets and livestock to a safe area
Arrange to transport your household members or co-workers in the event of an evacuation order and arrangeaccommodation for your family if possible.
MORE DETAILS WILL BE PROVIDED AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE

Photo from Heidi Vanderleest

Update: 4 pm

A growing wildfire is causing concern in Spallumcheen.

It broke out just before 2 pm on the east side of Highway 97A near Hutley Road.

The Armstrong-Spallumcheen fire department responded, asking for assistance from the BX Swan Lake and Coldstream departments.

The BC Wildfire Service has also sent ground and air crews.

There’s no update on the size but it is said to be growing in a southerly direction.

Spall Mayor Janice Brown has been watching the fire from a distance, and says there are no homes in the immediate area.

“We’re just trying to get an evacuation alert ready. The plane is circling but it’s not doing anything so we think it’s waiting for its pilot (plane). We can see the firemen up there and every once in a while we can see a big plume of smoke and red, and I can see it again every time a tree takes off,” says Brown.

Update: 3:20 pm

The BC Wildfire Service says the fire north of Swan Lake on the east side of Hwy 97A is said to be spot sized.

“Ground crews and aircraft are responding to that fire,” says information officer Tracy Wynnyk.

Wynnyk says the fire is showing rank 2 behaviour, which is a fast moving groundfire.

The Armstrong-Spallumcheen Fire Dept. with assistance from the BX Swan Lake Dept are responding to the fire which is believed to be in the Hutley Road area.

Spallumcheen Mayor Janice Brown has been watching the fire from Larkin Cross Road.

“I can see the red flames. There is no helicopters or planes or anything. It’s on the very top of the mountain, right at the old roundabout there. I can  see a house but it’s probably a mile away. There is a tiny bit of wind. Lots of people are standing around watching. I’ve been told the fire teams (from Armstrong-Spallumcheen) were on site, but normally they don’t fight forest fires,” Brown told Kiss FM around 3:20 pm

1:45 pm

Crews have been called to a brush fire in Spallumcheen.

It’s said to be in the Hutley Road area off Highway 97A.

The Armstrong-Spallumcheen Fire Dept. is responding, with a request for assistance from the BX Swan Lake Dept.

Dispatch reports say forestry ground crews are also responding.