Eagle Bluff wildfire now ‘being held’

PENTICTON – There is good news on the Eagle Bluff wildfire front this morning.

B.C. Wildfire officials said today, Aug. 16, the 2,632 ha wildfire has shown no significant growth in the last few days and firefighting efforts have brought the wildfire to “being held” status.

Today, 164 firefighters, four helicopters and three pieces of heavy equipment are available at the scene.

B.C. Wildfire reports reduced fire activity has resulted in night crew and most heavy equipment demobilizing from the fire. Several planned ignitions were conducted successfully in the past few days and the fire perimeter has been contained.

What remains burning is considered to be in an area of low fire intensity. Fire on the northeast flank is in terrain difficult to access and the fire in this area shows little chance of growth or threat to property. B.C. Wildfire says it will allow this area to continue to burn naturally with officials monitoring.

The east, west and south flanks have been fully suppressed and are now in patrol status. These areas of the fire formerly posed a threat to interface values.

More mop up is planned today on the west, east and south flanks with an objective to extinguish all hot spots within 200 feet of the fire perimeter.

An area restriction for Crown land was implemented Aug. 13 in the vicinity of Eagle Bluff and remains in place until rescinded, or until Aug. 30.

The Eagle Bluff wildfire, located around 10 km south of Okanagan Falls, was first discovered Aug. 4. Evacuation alerts were issued for more than 200 properties but were later rescinded.

Cause of the fire remains under investigation.

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