11:20 am
The BC Wildfire Service says the 1.8-hectare Bear Creek Fire, while still active, is 75 per cent contained.
There will be multiple air and ground resources deployed to fighting this fire today including a 20 person unit crew from Merritt and a helicopter will be bucketing.
With the current status of the firefighting effort, it means residents living in the area north of Bear Creek Road and Parkinson Road are still on evacuation alert and should be prepared to leave on short notice should conditions and fire behaviour change.
Approximately 54 of those properties have dwellings or other structures.
The evacuation alert remains in place for residents living on properties from the intersection of Parkinson Road, north along Bear Creek Road, including Rose Valley Road, Petterson Road, Dougmac Road and Bear Creek Main. These people should be prepared to be away from their home for an extended period of time, make arrangements for pets and pack essential items such as medicines, important documents and clothing.
The BC Wildfire Service says the fire is still active and is 75 per cent contained. There will be multiple air and ground resources deployed to fighting this fire today including a 20 person unit crew from Merritt and a helicopter will be bucketing.
Boaters on Okanagan Lake in the area adjacent to Bear Creek Provincial Park should stay clear and leave plenty of room for the aerial fire fighting activity.
Later today or early this evening it’s anticipated that the BC Wildfire Service will assess the fire situation to determine any possible change in the status of the Evacuation Alert. The next update is expected after 7 p.m.
RCMP advise that all previous roadblocks have been removed and are no longer in place.
Go to cordemergency.ca for the most current confirmed information.
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8:50 a.m.
The RCMP has lifted the roadblock at Westside Road and Bear Creek Main is no longer in place as Bear Creek Main is again open to traffic.
A further update on the fire from the B.C. Wildlife Management Branch is still expected sometime after 10 a.m.
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While a fireguard has been established around the perimeter of the Bear Creek fire, an evacuation alert remains in effect for 80 properties along Bear Creek and neighbouring roads.
Approximately 54 of those properties have dwellings or other structures.
Residents from the intersection of Parkinson Road north, including Bear Creek Road, Bear Creek Main, Rose Valley Road, Petterson Road and Dougmac Road are on evacuation alert and should be prepared to leave if conditions change and require an Evacuation Order .
They should be prepared to be away from their home for an extended period of time, make arrangements for pets and pack essential items such as medicines and important documents.
Overnight, 24 B.C. Wildfire Service firefighters conducted patrols and monitored the blaze which is estimated at more than two-hectares in size.
Last evening, West Kelowna fire crews stood down and turned the fire command over to the wildfire service whose personnel will assess the fire situation later this morning to determine the next course of action and any possible change in the status of the evacuation alert.
Air tankers and helicopters established a fire retardant box around the fire yesterday afternoon and evening.
Bear Creek Main at Westside Road remains closed to traffic. RCMP have removed the roadblock at Bear Creek Road at Parkinson Road, which is now open for traffic.
New information will be released after 10 a.m. once fire personnel have time to assess the fire this morning. Go to cordemergency.ca for the most current confirmed information.
