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Bc Wildfire

‘Too soon’ say critics of decision to lift campfire ban

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Some fire-shocked B.C. residents are questioning the decision by the Ministry of Forests to lift the campfire ban that has been in place since early July. The ministry announced Monday afternoon the ban would be lifted on Crown lands and campsites in the South East and Kamloops fire centres and many communities and regional districts...

VIDEO: Boaters get in way of water bombers on Okanagan Lake

KELOWNA – The forest fire burning in the Little White mountain area southeast of Kelowna has more than tripled in size today, plus efforts to fight the blazer are being hampered by boaters on Okanagan Lake. Calls about a big plume of black smoke southeast of Kelowna this morning, Aug. 27, sparked an immediate response...

Smoky skies continue, no end in sight to fire season

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - With smoke-filled skies and reports of new fires almost every day, it begs the question that’s on everyone’s mind: When will this end? “It’s a good question. There is no hard and fast measure that tells us when things are done. Every season is its own animal,” Kevin Skrepnek says. And B.C. Wildfire’s...

Smoke wreaks havoc on already-weakened hearts and lungs

SOUTHERN INTERIOR - Looks like the smokey skies will be with us until at least tomorrow and that means more discomfort for those with chronic heart and respiratory problems. “When we talk about smokey skies, we’re talking about the tiny solid particles that remain suspended in the air. The major concern is particles smaller than...

B.C. crews begin work on Washington wildfire

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - B.C. Wildfire firefighters have begun work on a Washington-based wildfire inching its way toward the Canadian border. With five kilometres left before reaching Canada, B.C. crews have been deployed to suppress the Stickpin Fire which is now estimated to be 19,240 hectares in size. Plans so far are for crews to assess the...

Pair of small fires burning in Joe Rich

KELOWNA - A pair of small wildfires have ignited south of Joe Rich, not far from a much bigger fire in early July. Fire information officer Kayla Pepper says eight B.C. Wildfire personnel are working the two fires which are burning approximately half a kilometre apart south of Mission Creek near McCulloch Road. Pepper says...

UPDATE: Crew mopping up after wildfire near Brenda Mines

WEST KELOWNA - B.C. Wildfire is moping up a wildfire about five kilometres south of the Brenda Mines, near Peachland Creek. Fire information officer Kelsey Winter says an air tanker used fire retardant to box in the 0.5 hectare fire northwest of Peachland, named the Boliver Forestry Service Road fire. Once that was in place,...

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...

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...

Drones flying over Westside Road wildfire halt air operations

WEST KELOWNA – Several people have been flying drones over the Westside Road wildfire today, forcing B.C. Wildfire to stop flying helicopters, which are supporting firefighters on the ground. The RCMP have been called in to investigate. Fire information officer Melissa Klassen says the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles have been flying in the Flight Restricted area...

UPDATE: Wildfire near West Kelowna under control, contained

WEST KELOWNA – B.C. Wildfire hit a blaze near West Kelowna hard and fast yesterday afternoon, bringing the fire under control within hours. The fire was spotted around 2:30 p.m., July 31, above Carre Road off Glenrosa Road on the way to Crystal Mountain. West Kelowna Fire crews backed up 20 firefighters from B.C. Wildfire...

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...