Update: Alerts Lifted, Okanagan Wildfire Update

Jul 25, 2018 | 4:14 PM

Update 4: 15 pm

It’s good news for residents living near several lightning caused wildfires that started last week in the Okanagan.

Evacuation alerts for 698 properties in Peachland and in Central Okanagan West Electoral Area of the Regional District of Central Okanagan have been lifted, due to a reduced fire threat.

The Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen has rescinded alerts for a number of properties north of Summerland, and ended a state of local emergency for Electoral Area F.

Two of the larger fires — Mt. Eneas and Goode’s Creek — have not seen any growth today as crews work on containment.

1.5 Hectare Blaze

Crews battling wildfire near Cherryville

33m ago

Too Hot for Dogs

Don't leave pets alone in hot vehicles: RCMP

1h ago

Smoky Skies

Air quality warning issued for the Okanagan

3h ago

10 am:

The Mt. Eneas wildfire near Peachland is still considered out of control.

Strong winds that were of concern did not materialize overnight, so the fire remains at one thousand 793 hectares.

BC Wildfire Service Information officer Marla Catherall says 97 personnel are on site today.

“Eighty-two of which are BC Wildfire Service personnel and fifteen are contract crews. And we do have a night shift still assigned to this fire. Today’s objectives are to continue to tie the merged fires with control lines.”

Crews continue to lay hose lines from north to south as well while other crews on the east and west flanks will work on hot spots.

Catherall adds that a fire in the Peachland Creek area about 2 and a half kilometres west of Peachland is classified as being held.

“Which means that we don’t anticipate any further growth due to weather conditions and suppression tactics. It is estimated at 23.1 hectares in size and today we have 15 personnel on site and two pieces of heavy equipment.”

The fire is in very steep terrain, in particular the west flank.

The fire is completely hand guarded and crews will be working today to extinguish the fire in the ravine.

The Law Creek fire, which is about six kilometres southwest of West Kelowna, is classified as under control and estimated at fifteen and a half hectares in size.

Twenty-five personnel with one piece of heavy equipment are working that fire.

Crews today will continue to a build black line south down the existing hose lay and watch for hot spots.

The Goodes Creek Wildfire about 21 kilometres south of Kelowna is still classified as out of control.

However, Catherall says the fire remains at 577 hectares.

Crews have been working on the east flank and are pushing to the south flank.

“The fire is working its way through the small drainages hitting unburnt fuels and creating columns of smoke. So we have had skimmers working last night and this morning and just cooling the area before moving the crews into this fire.”

The Mount Conkle fire about six kilometres southwest of Summerland remains held at an estimated 118 hectares.

Thirty-two firefighters are assigned to it to suppress the fire burning in cracks and crevices of numerous small, steep canyons.

Marla Catherall says 260 personnel are assigned to what the Wildfire Service calls the Okanagan Complex.

They’re backed by nine aircraft with more available as needed.

by Tom Mark