What’s happening with wildfires in Okanagan, Kamloops

The Southern Interior has been bombarded with smoke from wildfires and thousands have been evacuated from their homes.

The Bald Range and Quilpituk Creek wildfires are still out of control with thousands still evacuated and the province remains in a state of emergency.

The Bald Range wildfire in the South Okanagan is at 17,802 hectares with seven evacuation alerts and 11 evacuation orders still in place. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

There are 193 firefighters and 14 helicopters working to provide 24-hour coverage.

BC Wildfire Service said it expects the fire activity to calm down today, Aug. 12.

“Based on the weather forecast, we are anticipating decreased fire behaviour on the northern flank,” BC Wildfire said in a statement. “Confirmed information regarding structural impacts will be shared by the appropriate regional districts and local authorities as it becomes available.”

The Quilpituk Creek wildfire is at 1,271 hectares with one evacuation alert and seven evacuation orders still in place.

The Bradley Creek wildfire in the North Okanagan is being held at 2,649 hectares.

There are a total of 11 wildfires out of control in the Kamloops Fire Centre with the Ainslie Creek and Brunswick Creek fires near Lytton, and the Pear Lake fire near Cache Creek encroaching on the region.

Some highways in the Interior have also been closed due to the fires.

That includes Highway 97 from Cache Creek to Clinton, and in the Okanagan between Peachland and Penticton. Fires have also forced the closure of Westside Road through Fintry and Okanagan Indian Band, but the route from Vernon to Falkland has now been opened as the Bradley Creek blaze is now being held at 2,700 hectares.

Forest minister Ravi Parmar said most of the new fires have been kept small and under control.

“Just over the past week, 90 per cent of the fires in BC have been maintained within four hectares. That speaks to the hustle, determination and incredible resilience shown by this wonderful organization,” forest minister Ravi Parmar said on Aug. 11.

Of the 106 active wildfires, 80 per cent are suspected to be caused by lightning. Ten started between Aug. 10 and 11, and seven have been declared out in that same time.

Orange air quality warnings are still in place for Kamloops and the Okanagan but an update should come later today, Aug. 12.

“That smoke, albeit difficult for us to live with, is also helping us suppress the wildfires. It is helping to ensure the wildfires do not receive clean oxygen, because every time we see the air clear, like we saw in Summerland on Friday night, we see significant and extreme, to explosive, fire behaviour,” Parmar said.

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Click here for wildfire updates from BC Wildfire.