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Bc Wildfire 2015
VIDEO: Boaters get in way of water bombers on Okanagan Lake
KELOWNA – The forest fire burning in the Little White mountain area southeast of Kelowna has more than tripled in size today, plus efforts to fight the blazer are being hampered by boaters on Okanagan Lake. Calls about a big plume of black smoke southeast of Kelowna this morning, Aug. 27, sparked an immediate response...
Overnight brush fire on highway north of Vernon ‘could’ve been a different story’
SPALLUMCHEEN - Emergency crews took no chances with a brush fire burning on a slope off Highway 97 Wednesday night. Armstrong-Spallumcheen fire chief Ian Cummings says the half-acre blaze was reported just after 9 p.m., Aug. 26, just north of Greenhow Road on Highway 97. “It was quite visible, there was pretty high flames. We...
Smoke from Washington state fires casts pall over some Okanagan businesses
KELOWNA – Heavy smoke sweeping in from Washington state wildfires is causing some tourists to blow off their Okanagan vacations, say business people around Kelowna.
Possibility of ’ember showers’ from U.S. fire causes Grand Forks evacuation alert
GRAND FORKS – An evacuation alert has been issued for some residents of Grand Forks due to the possibilty of embers being blown across the border from the 19,000 hectare Stickpin wildfire in Washington State. The alert was issued today, Aug. 26 ahead of strong winds expected in the coming days, according to a post...
Burning vehicle starts grass fire on Okanagan Connector
KELOWNA – A vehicle on fire in the westbound lane of the Okanagan Connector has started a small grass fire 26 kilometres west of Kelowna. Seven firefighters are on scene of what B.C. Wildfire Officer Melissa Klassen describes as a primarily Rank 1 “smouldering ground fire with some open flame.” Klassen says poor visibility from...
Improved visibility allows limited air support on Testalinden Creek fire
PENTICTON - Firefighters working the Testalinden Creek blaze are receiving some limited air support today, Aug. 25, as South Okanagan skies clear of heavy smoke. B.C. Wildfire Fire Information Officer Heather Rice said 245 firefighters are currently working the blaze, aided by 11 helicopters. “Flying is still at a minimum, but there has been some...
Smoke wreaks havoc on already-weakened hearts and lungs
SOUTHERN INTERIOR - Looks like the smokey skies will be with us until at least tomorrow and that means more discomfort for those with chronic heart and respiratory problems. “When we talk about smokey skies, we’re talking about the tiny solid particles that remain suspended in the air. The major concern is particles smaller than...
B.C. crews begin work on Washington wildfire
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - B.C. Wildfire firefighters have begun work on a Washington-based wildfire inching its way toward the Canadian border. With five kilometres left before reaching Canada, B.C. crews have been deployed to suppress the Stickpin Fire which is now estimated to be 19,240 hectares in size. Plans so far are for crews to assess the...
Passing drivers keep Joe Rich grass fire from spreading
KELOWNA – Firefighters quickly put out a fire in Joe Rich this afternoon thanks to the help from some passing motorists who held the flames at bay. The human-caused fire was reported at 2:07 p.m., Aug. 24, next to Highway 33 and Falcon Road. Joe Rich fire chief Ben Wasyliuk says some drivers with fire...
Pair of small fires burning in Joe Rich
KELOWNA - A pair of small wildfires have ignited south of Joe Rich, not far from a much bigger fire in early July. Fire information officer Kayla Pepper says eight B.C. Wildfire personnel are working the two fires which are burning approximately half a kilometre apart south of Mission Creek near McCulloch Road. Pepper says...
Kelowna homeless sheltering from wildfire smoke at Gospel Mission
KELOWNA – The Kelowna Gospel Mission has decided to keep its doors open 24 hours a day until the smoky conditions clear up. Forest fire smoke from a pair of huge blazes in Washington State has created extremely smoky air in the Okanagan and prompted a special air quality statement from Environment Canada and Interior...
Small North Okanagan town bands together for Rock Creek fire victims
GRINDROD - A small community in the North Okanagan area is rallying together for victims of the Rock Creek wildfire. The Riverfront Pub & Grill is organizing a Ride for Rock Creek to assist people affected by an aggressive wildfire east of Osoyoos in the Rock Creek area. The human-caused fire destroyed 30 homes and...
UPDATE: What you need to know about the Wilsons Mountain and Testalinden Creek fires
Evacuation Alert for Wilsons Mountain Fires - Rescinded UPDATE: 4:30 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 23, 2015 Due to the Wilson’s Mountain fire no longer being a threat, the Evacuation Alert issued Aug 15th, 2015 has been rescinded. Evacuation alerts for the Wilsons Mountain Fire near Oliver have been rescinded for the following area: %%image7%% For more...
Heavy smoke blankets Okanagan; the rest of southern B.C. gets smoke haze
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – Smoke from the huge forest fires burning in Washington State pumped into the southern Interior yesterday evening has been trapped in the valleys by a temperature inversion. The Okanagan is getting the worst of the smoke with visibility down to less to a kilometre in some areas this morning, Aug. 23. Environment Canada,...
Testalinden Creek fire pushing north; wildfire crews ready for increased activity
OLIVER – The Testalinden Creek fire has grown to over 3.1 square kilometres and will likely be getting even bigger over the next few days. B.C. Wildfire says the extremely dry conditions and the forecast gusty southerly winds mean increased fire activity. The fire, which has been growing in a northerly direction, blew through containment...
Illegal burn doused by Vernon firefighters
VERNON - Vernon firefighters are reminding the public there is still a fire ban, something a local man apparently didn’t know. About 10 a.m., Thursday, Aug. 20, the Vernon Fire Department was called out to the 7300-block of Old Stamp Mill Road for a burning complaint. “It was a homeowner there claiming he didn’t know...
Evacuation alerts possible as U.S. fire chars its way toward Canadian border
CASTLEGAR, B.C. – Two southern British Columbia communities have been warned that evacuation alerts are possible as a huge wildfire burns in Washington state, just south of the Canadian border.
Progress on Rock Creek wildfire, but wind could challenge firefighters
ROCK CREEK – Firefighters have made progress containing the Rock Creek fire east of Osoyoos, but changing weather could be their biggest foe.
Firefighters and residents knock down brush fire near Okanagan Falls
OKANAGAN FALLS - A brush fire which broke out this afternoon near Okanagan Falls in the South Okanagan is already contained thanks to the quick response from fire crews and residents. The blaze was reported around 4 p.m., Aug. 20, next to McLean Creek Road about two kilometres east of Okanagan Falls, next to Meyer's...
Slow but steady progress corralling the Rock Creek wildfire
ROCK CREEK – Progress is being made on the huge wildfire which has destroyed 30 homes and 15 other buildings in the Boundary region.
Controlled burn operations continue on Testalinden Creek fire
PENTICTON - Fire fighters on the Testalinden Creek and Wilsons Mountain fire continued to make progress on the fire front today. B.C. Wildfire spokesperson Noelle Kekula says the Testalinden Creek fire is now estimated to be 1,850 hectares in size, at 40 per cent containment. It is currently being worked by 126 firefighters, 10 helicopters...
Fire south of Big White still not fully contained
KELOWNA – An active wildfire south of Big White near Clark Lake is only 50…
No sign of rumoured video showing tossed cigarette starting B.C. wildfire
ROCK CREEK – Days after a wildfire destroyed 30 homes in southeast British Columbia, rumoured video of a tossed cigarette that sparked the blaze hasn't been found.
Oliver wineries confident wildfires won’t affect quality of crop
OKANAGAN - The full effects of Friday’s wildfires on Oliver wineries may not be known for awhile but winery owners are breathing a sigh of relief no wineries have been lost during the blazes. Fire crews continue to make progress in their efforts to quench the Testalinden Creek and Wilsons Mountain fires this week. What still...