iN VIDEO: Eagle Bluff wildfire grows with successful back burns

OLIVER – The Eagle Bluff wildfire located 10 kilometres southeast of Okanagan Falls continued to grow yesterday, largely due to planned ignitions by B.C. Wildfire crews.

The fire, which was discovered Aug. 4, is currently estimated at 2,270 ha and is considered out of control.

A helicopter night vision flight of the fire was conducted overnight and the information used to support ground crews conducting night operations, and obtain more accurate mapping of the fire perimeter area.

There is currently 180 ground personnel working the fire, along with 13 helicopters and 19 pieces of heavy equipment.

An incident management team has been set up on-site and a structure protection specialist is on the scene to assess residences at risk.

An evacuation alert was issued Aug. 5  for more than 200 properties in the area, and on Aug. 7, 41 more properties were added.

The forecast today, Aug. 9, calls for the risk of a thunderstorm in the area this afternoon with winds becoming south at 20 km/h near noon, and a high of 31 Celsius.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Below is a time-lapse video by B.C. Wildfire of one of the planned ignitions conducted by wildfire specialists.

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