UPDATE: August 8
As of Wednesday morning crews will continue focusing their efforts on mop up and patrolling as the make significant headway on the Placer Mountain fire.
“Crews have made significant progress on this fire and will patrol and mop-up today. Gear will continue to be demobilized in areas where it is no longer needed,” reads an information bulletin from the BC Wildfire Service.
The fire is approximately 2,372 hectares in size and is smouldering about 37 kilometres south of Princeton and 36 kilometres southwest of Keremeos.
BC Wildfire reports this fire as being held.
“Today will be mainly sunny, with smoke likely to be present in the valley bottom at the beginning of the day. Temperatures down in the valley will reach 38 degrees today and southwesterly winds will be 15-25 km/h, becoming light and westerly at the end of the day,” writes incident commander Jim Richardson.
“At higher elevations, temperatures will reach 29 degrees and winds are predicted to be southwesterly at 15-25 km/h. The upper ridge will persist until late Friday, which will continue to increase temperatures. An upper trough will set up late Friday, breaking down the ridge into Saturday. This trough will bring moderate southwesterly winds with thunderstorms and cooler temperatures.”
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ORIGINAL: 7:55 p.m. August 7
Crews were focusing their effort on mop up and patrolling as they made significant headway on the Placer Mountain fire.
“This fire has made good progress thus far, attributable to favourable weather conditions and hard work done by crews. The 90 per cent containment figure is a reflection of this success,” said a information bulletin from BC Wildfire Service.
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With the Placer Mountain fire considered 90 per cent contained, the Regional District Okanagan Similkameen has lifted the evacuation order off Cathedral Lake Park and lodge.
“BC Wildfire has recommended that the Evacuation Order for Cathedral Lakes Lodge be rescinded.
Related: Wildfire south of Princeton is 80 per cent contained
The threat of wildfire has been reduced and the potential danger to life, health and property has
diminished in certain areas,” a release from the RDOS stated.
At the time of this post the BC Parks website still listed the Cathedral Park and Protected Area and lodge still closed.
The fire, approximate 2,372 hectares in size, burns about 37 kilometres south of Princeton and 36 kilometres southwest of Keremeos and is considered held.
Seventy-two firefighters and nine pieces of heavy equipment were actioning the fire Tues., Aug. 7. Eleven helicopters were being shared between the Placer Mountain Fire and the Snowy Mountain fire burning about 37 kilometres east.
Related: Update: Wind cancels burn-off plans for Snowy Mountain fire
“Crews have made significant progress on this fire and will continue to patrol and mop-up today. Efforts will also be focused on securing the southeast end. Gear will begin to be demobilized in areas where it is no longer needed,” a release from BC Wildfire stated.
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