UPDATE: Similkameen wildfire grows to 80 ha

PENTICTON – The out of control wildfire burning in the Similkameen has grown to 80 hectares in size.

B.C. Wildfire crews continue to work the Richter Mountain fire today, July 26, as another 20 personnel joined the fight.

Fire information officer Kelsey Dunkley says the blaze is being worked by a total of 41 firefighters on the ground with the support of three helicopters along with air tankers. The fire, which is burning 14 kilometres southeast of Cawston, spread near Highway 3, forcing the closure of the road last night. It reopened at around 7 a.m. today.

The Richter Mountain fire is currently estimated at 80 hectares in size and is considered out of control. The lightning-caused fire was first reported on Wednesday night, July 24. It is not threatening any structures at this time.

B.C. Wildfire says the spread of the fire is being attributed to downslope winds which are a normal evening weather event. Higher temperatures and dry conditions today are expected to increase fire activity.

Air tankers are using Osoyoos Lake to fill up so boaters are advised to watch for incoming aircraft and stay well away from aircraft landing on the lake.

Two other spot fires are also burning in the area. Crater Creek is considered under control, burning 18 km southwest of Keremeos, while the Long Joe fire, also a spot fire, is burning five km northeast of Osoyoos.

Weather over the next two days may not be helpful to firefighters as temperatures in the area are expected to reach the mid-30s today, with the possibility of thunderstorms and gusty winds heading into Saturday.

— This story was updated at 2:30 p.m. Friday, July 26, 2019, to add new information from B.C. Wildfire Service.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad or call 250-488-3065 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.