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Bc Wildfire 2015

Highways closed, smoke fills the sky as wildfires take over Interior

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - A hot, dry week followed by a lightning storm that moved through the region has led to an increase in aggressive fire activity in the Kamloops and Southeast Fire Centres today. Currently Highways 33 and 3 are closed because of a 350-hectare wildfire that is growing rapidly near Rock Creek. The fire was...

Lightning strikes keep crews hopping dousing wildfires

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Thunderstorms moving through the region ignited several new fires in the Kamloops Fire Centre. The fire danger rating for the Kamloops Fire Centre is high to extreme, with more lightning in the forecast for today, Aug. 13. “We did see lightning move through the area, followed by reports of fires yesterday, so we...

Smoke over Southern Interior from Coastal Fire Centre

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Smoke drifting into the Southern Interior is likely coming from the 1,370-hectare Harrison Lake fire that has been burning for just over a week now. As of 4 p.m. the air quality health index was sitting at a low rating throughout the region but Melissa Klassen of B.C. Wildfire says the smoke rolling...

Quick response stops South Okanagan wildfire

PENTICTON - A rapid response and lack of wind helped firefighters gain a quick upper hand on a wildfire southwest of Kaleden last night. Kaleden fire chief Darlene Bailey says firefighters were called to a smoke sighting near Partington and White Lake Roads at around 6:30 p.m., August 8. They arrived to find a Rank...

Keremeos wildfire leaves two homeless

PENTICTON - A human-caused wildfire west of Keremeos has left two people homeless. The grass fire broke out at about 8:30 a.m. this morning, Aug. 8, along Highway 3 about eight kilometres west of Keremeos, according to Keremeos fire chief Jordy Bosscha. Bosscha says a mobile home, a number of outbuildings and numerous farm implements...

Grass fire near Keremeos under control

KEREMEOS – Two hours after it was spotted this morning, a grass fire near Keremeos is under control. Firefighters with the Keremeos Fire Department and a three-person initial attack crew from B.C. Wildfire are on the scene mopping up the fire about 8 kilometres west of the village along Highway 3, according to fire information...

Big fires down but not out in Kamloops Fire Centre

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - The only two wildfires of note in the Kamloops Fire Centre have been downgraded to patrol status. Shelter Cove fire off Westside Road near Kelowna and Bolean Lake fire near Falkland were downgraded August 5 and will now be monitored by crews of five firefighters. “Patrol status means they are done active fire...

Fire risk high and heading higher into B.C. Day long weekend

DON'T BE STUPID WITH FIRE THIS LONG WEEKEND THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - There are currently two fires of note and more than a dozen active fires burning in the Kamloops Fire Centre and with yet another hot, dry week ahead of us the fire danger rating is quickly heading into the extreme level throughout the region once...

Burning operations planned for Westside Road wildfire

KELOWNA – People living in Shelter Cove and surrounding areas may notice increased smoke on the Westside Road wildfire starting today as a result of proactive burning operations. These burning operations will take place in a controlled environment within the fire’s perimeter to remove unburnt fuels from the area and decrease the chance of the fire breaching containment lines....

Water back to normal following Westside Road fire

OKANAGAN - A water advisory for two community water systems on Westside Road has been lifted. Central Okanagan Regional District officials say the Killiney Beach and Westshore water systems are back to normal after consultations with the Interior Health Authority. The advisory covered more than 530 properties off Westside Road and was issued after power...

UPDATE: Westside Road fire evacuation order downgraded to alert

WEST KELOWNA - Lots of good news today from the 560 hectare Westside Road fire as evacuated residents are allowed to return home and the blaze is 25 per cent contained. The Emergency Operation Centre advises that effective at 11:00 a.m. today, July 24, the Evacuation Order for the Shelter Cove/Westside Road Fire is downgraded...

Shelter Cove fire remains steady during the day

WEST KELOWNA - B.C. Wildfire has been hitting smoke on the south flank of the Shelter Cove fire with air tankers but other than that, not much has changed today in the 430-hectare blaze. The evacuation order continues for 70 homes along Westside Road which is closed in both directions between Cinnabar Creek and La...

UPDATE: Evacuation alerts ended for Bear Creek fire

WEST KELOWNA – The evacuation alert for the Bear Creek Interface Fire is rescinded as of 2 p.m. today. 10:16 a.m. July 22 update. Submitted by CORD Emergency  The Emergency Operation Centre advises that the Evacuation Alert for the Bear Creek fire remains in effect. The area burned by the fire remains at 1.8 hectares and...

Fire risk closes Knox Mountain Drive

KELOWNA - Knox Mountain Drive will be closed to vehicle traffic due to an extremely high fire hazard effective today. The upper gate has been closed since June 22. “The entire park will remain open to the public on foot or by bike, but we are limiting access by vehicle as a preventative safety measure,”...

Little change in Westside Road fire overnight

WEST KELOWNA - Evacuees from roughly 70 homes on Westside Road should expect to remain under order today, according to emergency officials. Current information still shows the fire at 430 hectares but with no containment — no change from last night. Updated information is expected this morning. However Central Okanagan Regional District Emergency Operations says evacuation orders...