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Bc Wildfire 2015

Huckleberry evacuation alert lifted as emergency operations centre closes

KELOWNA - The last evacuation alerts for the 55-hectare Huckleberry fire in Joe Rich have been rescinded. While the alert has been lifted for the 28 properties along Huckleberry Road, a release from the emergency operations centre says residents can expect to see ongoing fire suppression operations as firefighters work to fully extinguish the fire....

JOE RICH FIRE: YOU CAN GO BACK HOME!

KELOWNA - The Emergency Operations Centre advises effective at 8:00 p.m. tonight, the outstanding Evacuation Order for the 55-hectare Joe Rich interface face is rescinded. None of the 28 properties in the Highway 33 and Huckleberry Road area remain under Evacuation Order and all residents are now able to return to their homes. These properties...

Crews make more headway on Joe Rich fire; 28 still under evacuation order

KELOWNA - Crews working on the Huckleberry wildfire over night took advantage of calm winds and cooler temperatures to stay ahead of the Huckleberry wildfire in Joe Rich keeping it entirely contained, officials say. The fire has not grown since it started Friday, July 3, according a 8 a.m. release by the emergency operations centre....

Evacuation order partially lifted for Joe Rich fire; Now 100 per cent contained

The Evacuation Order for the Joe Rich Grassfire has been partially lifted for 114 properties effective 8 p.m. tonight.  The 28 properties remaining on Evacuation Order cannot return home and include: 1733 Huckleberry Road                      1735 Huckleberry Road                      1736 Huckleberry Road                      1737 Huckleberry Road                      1842 Huckleberry Road                      1843 Huckleberry Road                      1848 Huckleberry Road                    1876 Huckleberry Road...

The likely cause of the Huckleberry fire in Joe Rich won’t surprise anyone

KELOWNA - The Huckleberry fire is now 50 per cent contained but residents under evacuation order are still not allowed to return home. The area still has visible hot spots and shows the fire clearly started just off the highway yesterday, July 3. Public information officer Bruce Smith said at a press conference today it was...

Fire burning near Ashcroft among several new ones in Kamloops Fire Centre

ASHCROFT - Crews are currently on scene of a wildfire that quickly grew to 20 hectares in Venables Valley along Highway 1. Kayla Pepper of B.C. Wildfire says it started this morning and is burning in grass and sage on the west side of Highway 1 southwest of Ashcroft. Early on the fire was more...

Highway 33 reopened around Huckleberry wildfire

KELOWNA - Highway 33 is once again open to single-land alternating traffic through the wildfire area in Joe Rich.  The Emergency Operation Centre made the call along with the Ministry of Transportation. Speed limits may be reduced and emergency vehicles are in the area. You can also check drivebc.ca for more information. RCMP and traffic...

UPDATE: Firefighters gaining ground on Huckleberry fire

KELOWNA - Fire fighters appear to be gaining control of a large fire near Heartland Ranch in Joe Rich. A release this morning says containment guards appear to be holding and the fire didn't grow much over night. It's still estimated at 80 hectares in size. Some 14 structural firefighters from Joe Rich Fire Rescue...

JOE RICH FIRE: Evacuation order for 141 homes still in effect

KELOWNA - UPDATE as of 7:31 p.m.: Approximately 141 properties are affected by the Evacuation Order and another 158 are under Evacuation Alert. UPDATE 5:41 p.m.: An Evacuation Order has been extended to include all properties on Goudie Road, Jack Pine Road, Prather Road, Trapper Road and Boone Road in response to the Joe Rich...

UPDATE: Coquihalla partially reopens as crews fight wildfire near Othello

HOPE - A car fire just north of Hope on the Coquihalla Highway has spread to the neighbouring trees and partially shut down the highway. Drive B.C. is reporting that Highway 5 was closed in both directions from Highway 3 to Merritt because of a forest fire but that it has since partially reopened. As...

Smoke in South Okanagan from aggressive wildfire

KEREMEOS - A fire is burning in the remote wilderness of Snowy Creek Protected Area and causing smoke that is visible from Highway 3 and throughout the South Okanagan. B.C. Wildfire is estimating the aggressive fire at 90 hectares and says it is burning the high elevation grassland and timber surrounded by natural barriers. Crews...

Campfire bans in effect this weekend for B.C. Interior

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – Due to an elevated risk of fire across the Interior of B.C., the Kamloops Fire Centre has banned all open fires, including campfires, as of noon on Friday, July 3. Kelsey Winter of B.C. Wildfire says the step is being taken to prevent human-caused wildfires and protect public safety around Penticton, Kelowna, Vernon...

Weekend of fires fuelled by lightning

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – There were 35 fire starts this weekend in the Kamloops Fire Centre alone. Of those, 22 were caused by lightning, but the remaining 13 were believed to be human-caused. Penticton was the hottest fire zone in the region with 19 of the 35 starts this weekend, but Fire Information Officer Kelsey Winter says...

Wildfire crews hopping with 16 new fires on weekend

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – Almost half of the 16 new wildfires sparked in the Thompson-Okanagan region over the weekend were preventable because people caused them. Kelsey Winter with B.C. Wildfire Management says seven of the fires crews have either put out, or are currently working to put out, have been listed as human caused. The rest of...

Central Okanagan amongst the leaders in wildfire fuel reduction in B.C.

KELOWNA - The B.C. Forest Practices Board is praising Kelowna’s wildfire fuel mitigation efforts as amongst the most advanced in the province even as it criticizes the overall lack of progress in B.C. in protecting urban interface areas. “Today, Kelowna is an example of what communities can do to protect themselves. B.C. has been lucky...

No fireworks and possibly no campfires allowed this weekend

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – Without a significant amount of rainfall Tuesday night, the Southern Interior could see a fire danger rating of ‘extreme’ by the start of the weekend. And that could mean no campfires on the weekend before Canada Day. Kelsey Winter of B.C. Wildfire says the fire danger rating in the Kamloops Fire Centre, which...

B.C. sending more firefighters out-of-province

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - B.C. is answering a request for assistance from the Yukon, sending 31 firefighters there to help fight wildfires. According to B.C. Wildfire, the request was made through the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre, responsible for coordinating sharing of firefighting personnel and resources with other jurisdictions. B.C. just sent 21 firefighters, four fixed wing...

More B.C. wildfire crews heading north to Alaska

KAMLOOPS – A second round of wildfire firefighting resources from B.C. are being deployed in Alaska to help the state battle forest fires. Three rappel crews of three people each, a helicopter operations technician, 10 para-attack firefighters and B.C. Wildfire Management Branch representative left Sunday and arrived this morning, June 22. They are joining an...

Cisco Road wildfire evacuation alert rescinded

LYTTON – The Regional District Emergency Operations Centre has rescinded the evacuation alert for roughly 60 properties near the Cisco Road wildfire near Lytton. The alert was issued at 9 p.m. June 11 for the west side of the Fraser River from the intersection of Lytton Ferry Rd. and South Spencer Rd., south to the...

Cisco Road wildfire grows under controlled burns

LYTTON - A wildfire that was discovered a week ago near Lytton and grew rapidly over 24 hours has grown again, but this time because of controlled burns. B.C. Wildfire crews are working the Cisco Road Wildfire which was first discovered on June 11. It was first estimated at 150 hectares and by the end...