New Smoke Sparks Fire Concerns

The BC Wildfire Service says there are no new fires in the Vernon area despite all the new smoke that’s moved in today.

“The closest fire to Vernon right now is the Philpott Road fire near Kelowna, so really nothing new in the area, so we are seeing some smoke come up from the the fire that has moved across the border,” says information officer Jody Lucius.

Lucius says the Diamond Creek fire which moved into BC from Washington this week, is likely the main cause of the smoke. That fire grew 400 hectares overnight, and has also led to ash falling in areas of the Okanagan this week.

She says the Kelowna and Elephant Hill fires could also be factors, depending on which way the wind is blowing.