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 supression and will now watch the areas to make sure the fire doesn’t kick back up,” fire information officer Kelsey Winter says.

The Shelter Cove fire began July 19 and the Bolean Lake fire began July 20. Shelter Cove is believed to have been caused by lightning and grew to 560 hectares forcing the evacuation of 80 homes, while the fire near Falkland forced the evacuation of the Bolean Lake Lodge. It reached 335 hectares in size is thought to have been human-caused.

While the two fires have faded from the headlines, Winter says they are both 90 per cent contained, but are not out, and have the capacity to flare up again should weather conditions change.

She says all roads in both fire areas are open, but people should be cognisant they are in a wildfire area.

“If they do see smoke or flame, they should call it in,” Winters says.

There are currently 29 active wildfires in the fire centre, but none are considred wildfires of note. Winters describes fires of note as wildfires which are in the vicinity of structures, larger than 20 hectares or those that require a significant number of resources.

To contact the reporter for this story, email John McDonald at jmcdonald@infonews.ca or call 250-808-0143. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.