Wildfire update: battle on fire lines heating up

Jul 31, 2021 | 1:45 PM

The BC Wildfire Service is dealing with 241 fires today (July 31), with a chance of showers in the forecast, but also a risk of thunderstorms.

The Kamloops Fire Centre has the most active fires with 81, followed by the Southeast with 65.

The Wildfire Service says there are 60 evacuation orders affecting 3,120 properties, an increase of 62, while there are 97 evacuation alerts.

The service says more than 2,000 fire fighting personnel including nearly 300 from out-of-province are helping fight the blazes that have scorched 4707.84 square kilometres so far.

There is heavy smoke in the Okanagan, and other areas today, which is having an impact on firefighting efforts including on the Bunting Road Fire east of Mabel Lake, which is still estimated at 3,000 hectares.

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“Helicopters have been grounded due to visibility from the heavy smoke in the area,” the BCWS said on its website. “Very steep terrain in heavy fuel types and the fire continues to strip up and roll down as it makes its way south. Due to heavy smoke in the area we are unable to obtain an update in size.”

The White Rock Lake Fire, west of Vernon, is now estimated at 24,000 hectares, up about 3,000 from Friday, with growth this weekend expected to the east and northeast.

“Conditions on site are extremely smoky, which is hampering the ability for aircraft to fly and challenging suppression efforts. Heavy smoke in the area is also impacting hydro lines. As a result, power outages have occurred and may continue to do so.

Today, very high temperatures and dry conditions will continue to bring elevated fire behaviour. Isolated showers with a slight risk of thunderstorms this afternoon may bring variable wind shifts and further hamper suppression efforts. Fire growth is expected to continue the east and northeast. Crews are continuing to work towards safe, achievable operational objectives under extremely adverse conditions. Public and first responder safety remains BC Wildfire Services top priority. To protect the safety of the public and first responders, the BC Wildfire Service will continue to evaluate the need for further evacuation order and alert recommendations. (BC Wildfire update)

Fore more on the White Rock Lake Fire, click here.

The Two Mile Road Fire south of Sicamous, is still at an estimated 1,000 hectares.

“Rank 2 fire behaviour is being seen on this fire,” the BCWS stated. It is in challenging terrain and fuel types. The fire is burning in a northeast direction away from town. Hwy closure in place for responder safety, operations, and falling debris.”

The Brenda Creek Fire, 40 km’s west of West Kelowna, is still listed at 824 hectares.

The Nk’Mip Fire, north of Osoyoos, is estimated at 13,000 hectares with temperatures up to 37 degrees.

Environment Canada has issued a heat warning for much of the province although the mercury is not forecast to touch the record highs of last month, when temperatures hit 31.7 C in Vancouver and nearly 50 C in Lytton before a wildfire wiped out most of the community.

Drought is affecting parts of the southern Interior, all of Vancouver Island and the south coast on level four out of five, requiring many municipalities and regions to implement water conservation measures.

(With files from The Canadian Press)

by Pete McIntyre

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