Apex residents allowed to return home after two weeks

Apex Mountain Village is no longer under evacuation alert.

The order, which was put in place Aug. 1, was downgraded to an alert this afternoon, Aug. 16, by the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen. 

The evacuation was a result of the Keremeos Creek wildfire, which was first discovered July 29. It's one of 810 in 2022, yet accounts for nearly 20% of the total hectares burned, according to data released by B.C. Wildfire. It is estimated to be 6,950 hectares, compared to 35,650 hectares burned throughout B.C. 

Fortunately the total amount of land burned so far in 2022 pales in comparison to previous years. In 2021 there was a total of 656,519 hectares burned, and over the past 10 years the average has been 278,251 hectares.

Keremeos Creek is the only wildfire of note in the Kamloops fire centre. Fire information officer Paula Walbauer said crews assigned to it are sharing resources with the Richter Mountain wildfire, however Richter – estimated to be 78 hectares in size – is classified as under control.

Today, Aug. 16, the team is made up of 272 firefighters, 27 structure protection personnel, 15 helicopters and 21 pieces of heavy equipment.

Forecasts are calling for higher temperatures and lower humidity in the area, and Walbauer said activity is expected to remain relatively stable.

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— RDOS EOC (@EmergMgtRDOS) August 16, 2022

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