UPDATED: Okanagan Mountain Park wildfire evacuation alert lifted

Update: 10 p.m.

The Goode’s Creek fire burning in Okanagan Mountain Park remains at 400 hectares according to the BC Wildfire Service.

This fire is burning in old burn,this makes it less likely to exhibit the extreme fire behavior consistent with big timber fuels, stated the BC Wildfire Service.

The fire burned up and away from the residences today; however the blaze did emit a lot of smoke which blew toward Kelowna.

BC Wildfire notes the amount of smoke does not reflect any sort of extreme fire behavior.

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Update: 5:15 p.m.

An evacuation alert has been lifted for the 15 properties at the south end of Lakeshore Road, located within the Regional District of Central Okanagan, East Electoral Area.

This is just south of the City of Kelowna boundary and properties affected by the rescind include:

6006 – 8888 Lakeshore Road

Evacuation Alert RESCINDED for the 15 properties at the south end of Lakeshore Road: https://t.co/anvHyHBFBT #BCWildfire https://t.co/xLQFgVqY6R

— Emergency Info BC (@EmergencyInfoBC) July 20, 2018

Video: Kane Blake

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Update: 11 a.m.

The Okanagan Mountain Park wildfire is being called “stable” this morning by the Central Okanagan Emergency Operations Centre.

Also known as the Good Creek wildfire, it has consumed approximately 400-hectares.

“It’s anticipated these estimates will be updated by BC Wildfire Service later today along with a plan of attack and resources,” said the emergency centre in a news release.

“There have not been any new evacuation alerts and orders and all previous ones remain in effect. The status of these will be reviewed later today and only when it is safe for residents, will any changes be made.”

Noelle Kekula, BC Wildfire Service spokesperson, said winds are blowing south moving the fire in the opposite direction of nearby residences at the end of Lakeshore Road.

Kekula said the fire did not grow last night, as ground crews were working on fireguards for the east flank of the fire along with attacking it from the air with helicopter air and retardant drops.

“The winds are favourable for us right now so that is positive. The fire is moving in the direction of the area burned in 2003 so there aren’t trees around for it to start candlelighting. We are dealing with a different ecosystem with this fire compared to the other fires going on,” she said.

“The fire is still definitely a threat but a different threat in terms of how we approach how to fight it. But with the cooler weather today, that means higher humidity so that reduces the aggressive behaviour of the fire. We have a window of opportunity in the next day or two to make some gains.”

The Emergency Support Services (ESS) reception centre for evacuated residents is located at the Lakeview Heights Baptist Church, 2630 Alhambra Drive in West Kelowna. ESS volunteers are available as of 8:30 a.m. this morning to help affected Central Okanagan residents. Residents that are evacuated from their homes must report to the reception centre to receive any assistance and lodging.”

Original:

The Good Creek wildfire that started in Okanagan Mountain Park Tuesday continues to burn at 400 hectares.

An evacuation alert has been issued for homes on Lakeshore Road, as BC Wildfire Service crews focused on suppressing wildfire activities in the area.

On the 15th anniversary year of the firestorm that destroyed more than 240 Kelowna homes in the same area, a forestry manager for Gorman Brothers Lumber says he isn’t surprised a new fire sparked close to where the old one began in Okanagan Mountain Park.

Hard to imagine there is anything left to burn in #Okanagan Mountain Park but with this wind, fire seems to find fuel. #cowboytelevision #beach #okanaganfires #forestfire #Kelowna #MtEneas #Peachland #Summerland pic.twitter.com/ieYGjRG7te

— Marissa Baecker (@Marissa_Baecker) July 20, 2018