Update: 3 p.m.
Video: Vehicles, out buildings burned in wildfire near Peachland
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Update 12:44 p.m.
Wildfires in the Okanagan continue to burn, as 260 firefighters along with nine air craft and heavy equipment to continue controlling the fire.
Today crews are patrolling areas where lightning strikes occurred last night to ensure more fires don’t spark up.
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Mount Eneas is still classified as out of control at an estimated 1,793 hectares, 74 firefighters are on scene and building hose lines on each side of the fire. A night shift is still assigned.
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Peachland Creek wildfire is considered held and has 15 firefighters working to keep the 23 hectare fire contained.
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Law Creek wildfire is considered under control and is 15.5 hectares in size, 28 firefighters are still working to extinguish hot spots and lay hose lines through the interior of the fire.
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Goode Creek wildfire also known as the Okanagan Mountain Park fire is still classified as out of control at an estimated 577 hectares in size. Air support will be coming in as needed to help the 33 firefighters on scene to establish water delivery and extinguish hot spots.
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Mount Conkle is still considered held at an estimated 118 hectares, 32 firefighters are continuing to extinguish hot spots within 100 feet of the perimeter.
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Update: 12:07 p.m.
Updated stories on the wildfires currently burning in the Okanagan:
Blaze near Enderby under control
Postill Lake blaze under control
Wildfires near Keremeos continue to grow
Small fire on Old Hedley Road extinguished
Naramata wildfire grows as firefighters struggle with terrain
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Update: 9: 08 a.m.
As fire crews get a handle on the blazes across the Okanagan corridor, the Kelowna Fire Department is contending with intentionally set fires.
A fire started just after midnight, at the base of Knox Mountain, was quickly knocked down before it spread any further up the hill towards Royal View Drive.
This blaze is believed to have been set by transients.
The Mount Conkle wildfire in Summerland is being held at an estimated 118 hectares in size.
Today 48 firefighters will be on scene of this blaze.
The Mt. Eneas wildfire, near Peachland, is holding at an estimated 1,793 hectares and is still considered out of control.
The Okanagan Mountain Park fire, also called the Goode’s Creek fire, is now holding at an 577 hectares.
Morning update: some rain last night was good news, but the fires are still active. Resourcing these #BCWildfire are: 280 firefighters, 9 helicopters & air support. For more fire updates visit https://t.co/9c4gcxCrkb @BCGovFireInfo
— Central Ok Emergency (@CO_Emerg) July 24, 2018
Last evacuation order lifted in Summerland
Fire set at the base of Kelowna’s Knox Mountain
Okanagan Mountain fire holding at 577 hectares
Law Creek fire above West Kelowna held at 16 hectares
Mt. Eneas wildfire near Peachland 1,793 hectares
Mount Conkle wildfire near Summerland held at 118 hectares
Highway 1 reopened near Spences Bridge as crews continue to battle wildfire
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Update: 9 p.m.
The BC Wildfire Service has released its latest information on the fires burning in the Okanagan and Similkameen. Check out our latest stories below.
Overall, BC Wildfire Service fire information officer Noelle Kekula said Monday evening that crews have had a very successful day fighting the fires.
“There has been a lot of positive work on all of the fires in the Okanagan Complex,” said Kekula. “It was really good. A really good day on the fires.”
Kekula said crews are now just waiting to see if any lightning comes through the region tonight and if it does, they will manage accordingly.
Peachland wildfire holds at 1,793 hectares
Okanagan Mountain Park fire grows to 577 hectares
Wildfire near Spences Bridge grows to 80 hectares, closes Highway 1
Update: Mt. Conkle wildfire near Summerland ‘being held’ at 118 hectares
Mount Eneas wildfire plume while BC Wildfire Service conducts burn operations. Image: Kathy Michales/Kelowna Capital News
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Update: 6 p.m.
The BC Wildfire Service has released its latest information on the fires burning in the Okanagan and Similkameen. Check out our latest stories here:
Peachland wildfire now mapped at over 1,700 hectares
Okanagan Mountain Park fire grows to 557 hectares
Wildfire near Spences Bridge closes Highway 1
Penticton Indian Band lifts evac alert
Drone halts firefighting efforts in B.C. Interior
Blaze spotted near Postill Lake
Winery now open after wildfire
Snowy Mountain fire grows to 1,360 hectares in size
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Update: 3:43 p.m.
While BC Wildfire crews are working to gain control of several blazes burning in the Okanagan, another fire near Postill Lake has sparked.
The municipality of Summerland has lifted an evacuation order and rescinded evacuation alerts.
The Mount Eneas fire is still burning out of control, as containment lines have not been built around the entire blaze.
To the south the Snowy Mountain fire, near Keremeos, has grown to 1,360 hectares in size.
Summerland lifts evacuation orders as wildfire conditions improve
Winery now open after wildfire
Blaze spotted near Postill Lake
Small wildfire sparks south of Enderby
Snowy Mountain fire grows to 1,360 hectares in size
Wildfire evacuation order rescinded for five properties
Peachland wildfire mapped at over 1,500 hectares
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Update: July 23 7 a.m.
BC Wildfire Service crews continue to make good progress on a handful of fires burning in our region after a lightning storm last Tuesday evening sparked more than a dozen wildfires.
Before you head into work Monday morning, get an update on each of our local wildfires.
Peachland wildfire mapped at over 1,500 hectares
Okanagan Mountain Park fire remains the same size
Law Creek fire in Glenrosa remains active, not growing
Mt. Conkle fire in Summerland remains 118 hectares
Soaring temperatures, high winds could worsen fires in B.C.’s southern Interior
Victoria woman recounts driving past wildfire near Peachland
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Update: July 22 8:38 p.m.
BC Wildfire is reporting making good progress on the 14 blazes up and down the Okanagan corridor.
The Mt. Eneas wildfire remains the largest fire in the region, having grown to 1516 hectares.
The Evacuation Alert has been rescinded for the remaining 69 properties in the Glenrosa area impacted by the Law Creek Fire.
The Goode’s Creek fire, burning in Okanagan Mountain Park near Kelowna, is estimated at 400 hectares still. Crews are building handguards and are continuing to extinguish hot spots.
The Mount Conkle fire, burning south of Summerland is holding at 118 hectares, with 48 firefighters working.
BC Wildfire holding steady on Okanagan Complex
Wild fires blaze in the Okanagan, in your words
BC Wildfire merges Mt. Eneas and Munro Lake fires
UPDATE 1:00 p.m. July 22
Almost a week after the lightning storm that set the Okanagan ablaze, fires continue to burn.
The 240 B.C. firefighters continue to work on containing and extinguishing the wildfires, along with 18 helicopters, air tankers, water tenders and heavy equipment.
The fires are slow moving, ground fires now according to BC Wildfire Service; six fires are still considered out of control, six are being held, and five have been extinguished so far.
Progress being made on Okanagan wildfires
Okanagan Mountain Park wildfire continues to hold at 400 hectares
Firefighters working to construct control lines in West Kelowna wildfire
Mount Conkle fire grew but 90 per cent guarded
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UPDATE: 10 p.m. July 21
As you head to bed Saturday evening take a look at the latest wildfire coverage in our region:
Car thief nabbed by Mounties on wildfire duty
Mount Eneas wildfire holds at 1,374 hectares
Okanagan Mountain Park fire holds at 400 hectares
Evacuation alerts rescinded for properties near West Kelowna wildfire
Wildfire near Summerland mapped at 118 hectares
VIDEO: Victoria woman recounts driving past wildfire near Peachland
Okanagan wildfires have potential to become firestorms, says UBC expert
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UPDATE: 8 a.m. Saturday, July 21
Here are some of our top stories this morning, which we will add to throughout the day:
Peachland firefighters have quiet night monitoring Mount Eneas wildfire
Okanagan Mountain Park fire remains active
Wildfire near West Kelowna mapped at 10 hectares
Wildfire crews working to strengthen line around fire near Summerland
Okanagan wildfires have potential to become firestorms, says UBC expert
Video: Victoria woman recounts driving past wildfire near Peachland
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UPDATE: 7:03 p.m. Friday, July 20
Here are some of our top wildfire stories from Friday:
Mount Conkle fire near Summerland 90 per cent guarded
Mount Eneas fire grows to 1,374 hectares
BC Wildfire update on Okanagan blazes
Summerland winery saved from wildfire
Fire on Kelowna’s Knox Mountain quickly knocked down
Current forest fires bring back memories of 2003 wildfire in Kelowna
Garnet Valley Road in Summerland blocked as crews fight wildfire
Cooler temps today, but no rain in forecast until August
Ban took effect at noon on Friday to reduce wildfire risk
BX blaze out, new Sugar Lake fire sparked
Lake Country firefighters lend a hand to combat 1,000 hectare blaze
Five small fires burn east of Oliver
Fire command centre relocating from Penticton to West Kelowna
Law Creek wildfire evacuation alert partially rescinded
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UPDATE: 3:40 p.m.
A number of properties in the Law Creek area have been removed from the Evacuation Alert in Upper Glenrosa.
Of the 198 properties put on evacuation alert last night, 69 of them have been rescinded.
Those no longer on alert are located on Carre, Emerald, Fenton, Gill, Glenrosa, McKellar, Preston and Turnbull roads.
The remaining 129 properties identified yesterday remain on evacuation alert, meaning residents at those properties need to be ready to leave at a moment’s notice.
A detailed map showing all the properties on the Evacuation Alert from the Law Creek wildfire can be found at www.cordemergency.ca/map.
The total number of properties on evacuation alert in the Regional District Central Okanagan is now 803, with 38 properties on evacuation order.
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UPDATE: 2:30 p.m.
The B.C. division of U-Haul is stepping up to offer support for Okanagan residents who have been or will be evacuated from their homes because of the wildfires.
U-Haul is offering 30 days of free self-storage and U-Box container usage to evacuees.
“Many residents have already been displaced and others to be ready to leave at any moment, ” said U-Haul British Columbia president Horace Martin.
“As a caring and active member of these communities, U-Haul wants to make sure our neighbours are safe and have a secure place to store their belongings.”
Families seeking self-storage assistance can contact their nearest participating U-Hail facility:
U-Haul Moving & Storage at Orchard Park
2076 Enterprise Way
Kelowna, BC V1Y 6H7
250-762-8306
U-Haul Moving & Storage of West Kelowna
3571 Old Okanagan Rd.
West Kelowna V4T 2P5
778-741-0141
UPDATE: 2 p.m.
The Mount Eneas wildfire is holding at 1000 hectares.
DriveBC reports Highway 97 is still open Friday morning.
Across the lake, the Okanagan Mountain Park fire is also still holding at about 400 hectares in size.
A provincial update on the B.C. wildfire season will be live on the Penticton Western News Facebook page at about 3 p.m.
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ORIGINAL: 8 a.m.
For the third night in a row, lightning-caused wildfires took a turn for the worse prompting a new state of local emergency, further evacuation orders, alerts and highway concerns.
An ominous scene overlooking the Mount Eneas fire between Peachland and Summerland Wednesday night. Photo: Instagram/Caillum Smith
The 1000-hectare Mount Eneas wildfire and the about six-hectare Munro Lake wildfire are both burning south of Peachland.
The Mount Eneas wildfire took off Tuesday evening after a large lightning storm swept through the Okanagan and Similkameen.
By Wednesday afternoon the fire had jumped the highway promoting intermittent closures of Highway 97 and evacuation orders.
Thursday evening the encroaching fire forced the District of Peachland to issue a state of local emergency.
According to BC Wildfire, the Mount Eneas wildfire is still sitting at about 1,000 hectares in size.
More than 1,500 residents are on evacuation order or alert.
DriveBC reports Highway 97 is currently open Friday morning. It says this cautious opening is due to “dynamic fire behaviour.”
Wildfire continues to burn in Okanagan Mountain Park – Instagram: c_kirzinger
Across the lake, the Okanagan Mountain Park fire is holding at about 400 hectares in size.
The red glow south of Kelowna is bringing up resident’s worst fears as the fire burns in the same location as the destructive 2003 wildfire.
An evacuation alert has been issued for homes on Lakeshore Road, as BC Wildfire Service crews focus on suppressing wildfire activities in the area.
Instagram: waterax_pumps
A wildfire above Glenrosa, an area still reeling from a destructive 2009 wildfire, picked up steam last night prompting a new evacuation alert for the area.
The evacuation alert was issued Thursday evening for 198 properties in the upper Glenrosa area of West Kelowna, due to the eight-hectare Law Creek wildfire.
Photo by BC Wildfire Service
Further south, the Mount Conkle wildfire near Summerland is sitting at 90 hectares.
The Penticton Indian Band issued a State of Local Emergency on Wednesday due to this fire threatening nearby homes.
Homes on Garnet Valley Road from Wildhorse Road north are under an evacuation order, while homes on Garnet Valley Road from Jones Flat Road to Wildhorse Road are on an evacuation alert.
Photo by BC Wildfire Service
Further south in the Lower Similkameen, the Placer Mountain fire has tripled in size over the last 24 hours. It sits at about 150 hectares.
The B.C. Wildfire Service is reporting that the fire is located in high elevation, west of Cathedral Lake and east of Eastgate.
The fire is classified as out of control but not currently threatening any structures.
Crews were busy battling the wildfire near Hartnell Road in the BX Wednesday, after it was sparked by lightning Tuesday. (Lisa Mazurek/Morning Star)
In hills above Vernon, the Upper Brookside Creek wildfire in the BX is holding at 1.2 hectares.
The blaze is not an interface fire and the cause is still under investigation.
For up-to-date information on all of the wildfires check back on this site throughout the day.
For some more fire coverage check out the list of recent articles below.
- Smoky skies bulletin remains for Okanagan Valley
- New wildfire burning in the Naramata area
- Lakeshore Drive businesses ‘prepared not scared’ in wake of wildfire
- Flicked cigarette butt sparks small fire
- Through your lens: Okanagan wildfires
- Penticton bans open burning
- Okanagan residents urged to FireSmart their homes
- Complete list of B.C. Interior wildfire coverage – Coverage up until end of day on Thursday, July 19th. For more recent information, see above.
Send us your best fire photos, video and information to okanagan@bpdigital.ca.
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