Eagle Bluff wildfire slows its pace near Osoyoos, evacuation orders remain in effect
After crossing the US border and causing evacuation alerts in the Osoyoos area, the Eagle Bluff wildfire was less aggressive today.
“Definitely a decrease in the activity that we were seeing yesterday evening,” BC Wildfire fire information officer Shaelee Stearns said at a press conference today, July 30. “Rank 2 is that surface fire that we’re seeing with a slower rate of spread.”
A crew of 25 were fighting the fire this morning and another 25 personnel were en route this afternoon. There are 11 pieces of heavy equipment and five helicopters also assigned to the fire. Stearns said crews are focusing on the eastern flank and were conducting some small-scale hand ignitions.
BC Wildfire estimates the fire to have burned 885 hectares.
There are 732 properties that remain under evacuation order in the Town of Osoyoos and Areas A and B in the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen, and 2,094 under alert in Areas A, B, C and the Town.
Crews will be fighting the fire throughout the night.
An ESS Reception Centre has been activated at the Oliver Community Centre.
The suspect cause remains under investigation.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Dan Walton or call 250-488-3065 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.
We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. SUBSCRIBE to our awesome newsletter here.
