Okanagan Fires Update

By Tom Mark

Aug 13, 2018 | 7:48 AM

Picture: Harris Creek Wildfire – BC Wildfire Service

The rain and cooler weather helped firefighters battling the Monashee Complex of fires in the North Okanagan over the weekend.

At the Harris Creek fire, a unit crew and a contract crew working alongside industry personnel and equipment have completed a wide containment line around the fire.

That allows the option to burn to the guard and limit the spread to the west into a slide area and south into the Graystokes Provincial Park.

The fire is estimated at 508 hectares and still classified as out of control.

1.5 Hectare Blaze

Crews battling wildfire near Cherryville

2h ago

Too Hot for Dogs

Don't leave pets alone in hot vehicles: RCMP

2h ago

Smoky Skies

Air quality warning issued for the Okanagan

4h ago

Yesterday, crews continued to mop up and extend guards along the southwest flank.

A fire camp established at Lumby should be operational today.

The fire has 24 firefighters with seven pieces of Tolko heavy equipment working on it.

Meanwhile, the 18 hundred and 61 hectare Mabel Creek fire remains out of control six and a half kilometres east of Mabel Lake.

Crews yesterday worked to establish a guard on the western flank to limit spread toward Mable Lake, complete a hose lay for wet lining the south flank, and establish further helipads.

The Sugar Mountain Fire remains estimated at 332 hectares.

Over the weekend Tolko crews with machines made progress and the east and west guards are complete.

Yesterday, they were working on the northwest guard.

Like with the Mable Creek fire, area restrictions are in place in the Sugar Mountain region..

Details can be found on the BC Wildfire Service Website.

The Proctor Road fire southeast of Lumby is no longer considered a wildfire of note, not having surpassed 25 and a half hectares and well held.

Looking at other fires in the Okanagan, The Gottfriedsen Road fire 24 kilometres west of West Kelowna and 8 kilometres north of the Okanagan Connector had a 75 per cent guard on it as of yesterday afternoon. Crews were to continue into the evening to build on that.

Winds on Saturday blew the fire back on itself and it remains mapped at 550 hectares, but accurate mapping has not been available because of the thick smoke.

To the south of Keremeos, the Snow Mountain fire remained at 13 thousand 359 hectares yesterday afternoon and classified as out of control and active.

Crews continue to work in difficult terrain toestablish dozer access on the north side of the fire.

Winds in the lower south east corner of the Snowy Mt. fire caused the fire to creep down the west side of the drainage.

Crews were able to catch it early and were successful in extinguishing this small escape.

In the afternoon, crews were chased out of the drainage by dangerous winds, but were able to continue work after the winds subsided.

There are 10 helicopters assigned to the incident in order to support ground crews.

by Tom Mark