Bc Wildfire 2015
Gusty wind a concern for wildfire crews battling blaze near Kelowna
KELOWNA – The 194-hectare fire burning southeast of Kelowna is completed surrounded by a fire guard, but strong winds in the forecast could change that. The weather system moving through the Okanagan today, Aug. 29, is bringing rain, but also very strong winds. Fire information officer Melissa Klassen says there is a machine guard around...
Communities on edge: Thompson-Okanagan fire officials field calls for false alarms
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Fire appears to be at the forefront of many peoples’ minds across the Thompson-Okanagan. With wildfires burning across the province and a blanket of smoke from Washington hanging in the air, fire officials say they are receiving a number of reports which are in fact nothing more than false alarms. In the North...
Cool, wet weather helping crews battle four wildfires in Central Okanagan; forecast wind a worry
KELOWNA – Wildfire crews have been busy the last 24 hours with four wildfires burning around Kelowna but the wet weather today is helping control the largest fire on Little White Mountain. The Little White Mountain fire is approximately 120 hectares in size and not yet fully contained, according to B.C. Wildfire fire information officer...
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...
Winds could whip up fire activity in B.C., Washington state: wildfire service
KAMLOOPS – About 1,600 people in southeastern British Columbia remain on evacuation alert as fire crews prepare for winds to carry in trouble from wildfires in neighbouring Washington state.
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...
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...
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...
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...