Smoke from the Mara Mountain fire. (file photo/Vernon Matters Staff)

By Liam Verster

Wildfire Response

Helicopters taken off Sitkum Creek fire response, ground crews assigned to Mara Mountain fire

Jul 30, 2024 | 3:25 PM

The B.C. Wildfire Service has changed its resources assigned to the nearby fires.

The BCWS confirmed with Vernon Matters that the bucketing helicopters were no longer actioning the Sitkum Creek wildfire near Sugar Lake, northeast of Lumby and Cherryville.

“Because of the precipitation that a lot of the Kamloops Fire Centre saw overnight, there was no growth to the fire so the helicopters are not necessarily assigned there at the moment, but they are available and easily accessible if the need arises for them,” Cassidy Martin, a fire information officer with the BCWS, told Vernon Matters Tuesday, July 30.

Though the Sitkum Creek wildfire was still estimated at 1,993 hectares in size as of Tuesday, Martin noted the recent cooler, wetter weather has helped lessen fire behaviours in the region, allowing ground crews to get in closer and action the blazes.

Though the helicopters weren’t actioning the Sitkum Creek wildfire Tuesday, Martin did state that 32 wildland firefighters were on the ground, fighting the fire on the western flank. A machine guard had also been set up in that area, and two danger tree fallers were assessing hazards in the operations area.

Council grants

Vernon to distribute over $50k in Council Discretionary Grants, $20K to the food bank

10h ago

Possible firearm involved

One person apprehended in connection with suspicious activity in Coldstream

Dec 13, 2025

Fatal Collision, Highway Closed

One person dead in crash near Revelstoke

Dec 13, 2025

The Regional District of North Okanagan downgraded a section of its Evacuation Order in the Sugar Lake area to an Alert Monday, and also lifted an Alert for the wester shoreline. The RDNO had not made any changes to the ongoing alerts or orders at time of publication.

Meanwhile, some resources have been assigned to the Mara Mountain wildfire, east of Sicamous.

The fire, estimated at 290 hectares in size, had been burning in an inaccessible area near burn scars and alpine terrain, but Martin told Vernon Matters a team of 15 wildland firefighters were able to get to the fire Tuesday.

“They’re continuing with the same objectives [as the Sitkum Creek wildfire]: working on access routes and assessing where heavy equipment would be safe to go in there,” the fire information officer explained.

She noted two helicopters were also on standby and ready to be deployed to assist with the Mara Mountain wildfire if needed.

Both the Sitkuum and Mara wildfires remained classified as Out of Control Tuesday, and both were believed to have been started by lightning strikes.