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Fire
Gaining ground on aggressive Lytton fire
KAMLOOPS - Crews were successful in gaining ground on the Botanie Creek fire Monday and now believe the nearly 1,400 hectare fire is 15 per cent contained. “The objectives for today are for ground crews and equipment to continue to reinforce fire guards,” Fire Information Officer Melissa Klassen says. Klassen says no further structures have been...
Power back on at Botanie Creek, fire now 25% contained
KAMLOOPS - Power is back on to the 45 properties affected by the Botanie Creek fire north of Lytton while more than 170 firefighters remain on the scene fighting the wildfire that is still 75 per cent uncontrolled today. B.C. Wildfire Fire Information Officer Melissa Klassen says the fire, which was discovered last Tuesday, remains...
Crews slowly containing Murray Lake fire
KAMLOOPS - A 340 hectare fire burning south of Merritt just off the Coquihalla Highway is now 40 per cent contained and crews continue to build on the guards already in place. Crews continue to make progress on the fire, which was just 30 per cent contained Monday, and today more than 100 crew members...
Authorities investigate another suspicious fire, this time at Middleton Mountain
VERNON - Another suspicious fire in Vernon, this time in fruit shipping containers, has investigators combing through the rubble. The Vernon Fire Department was called out to the 1200 block of Waddington Drive on Middleton Mountain Monday about 11:30 p.m. Tall flames and smoke could be seen from other parts of the city. Numerous wooden...
Apex wildfire still not out after one week
PENTICTON - A fire that broke out last week on Apex Mountain continues to burn but is 75 per cent contained as of Monday morning. The fire is estimated to be 345 hectares in size and believed to be human caused, however an investigation is still underway. There are 15 firefighters and one piece of...
One house lost as crews work to contain Botanie Creek fire
KAMLOOPS - Firefighters were able to contain a small area of the wildfire north of Lytton this weekend, but not before a house was consumed by the uncontrolled blaze. “There are two properties affected,” B.C. Wildfire Fire Information Officer Melissa Klassen says. “Unfortunately one was a house. It’s devastating. The resident has been notified by...
Crews continue to battle Murray Lake fire
KAMLOOPS - Crews continue to establish a guard around the perimeter of a 340 hectare fire just west of the Coquihalla Highway today, a week after the fire was first discovered. In total 70 crew members are on site south of Merritt, along with nine pieces of heavy equipment and five helicopters working to establish...
UPDATE: Apex wildfire now 60 per cent contained
PENTICTON - The wildfire on Apex mountain has burned 345 hectares and is now 60 per cent contained. The evacuation alert issued Wednesday remains in place for the lower portions of Green Mountain and Apex Mountain Roads, though it has been lowered to nine properties from 13. B.C. Wildifre has also reduced the amount of resources...
Fires rage across province
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Firefighting resources are being juggled and reassigned as British Columbia's Wildfire Management Branch handles several blazes, including one that forced about 2,500 people from their homes. The Smith Creek fire near West Kelowna raged to an estimated 400 hectares by Friday morning, only a day after an evacuation order was issued for the...
Teen arrested for arson in connection with townhouse fire
VERNON - A teenager has been arrested for arson in connection with a townhouse fire that sent residents fleeing the building. RCMP spokesperson Gord Molendyk says a 19-year-old man residing in the 44 Street townhouse will appear in court Friday on charges of arson with disregard for human life. Fire officials said the blaze erupted...
Evacuations ordered in Botanie Creek wildfire
The Thompson-Nicola Regional District is issuing a Declaration of State of Local Emergency in Electoral Area "I" (Blue Sky Country) and an Evacuation Order for residents on Botanie Creek Road due to the potential threat to life and health from the Botanie Creek Wildfire north of Lytton. The fire is up to 470 ha and B.C. Wildfire has no...
Residents flee from burning townhouse
VERNON - Fire sent the residents of a Vernon townhouse running Thursday morning. The fire, which started around 7:30 a.m. in the second floor bedroom of a 44 Street townhouse, is considered suspicious. "We are looking into the possibility there was a disagreement betwen the residents," RCMP spokesperson Gord Molendyk says, adding the occupants were...
Smoky skies across Okanagan and Similkameen valleys
OKANAGAN - A smokey skies advisory is in effect for the Okanagan and Similkameen areas, due to high levels of wildfire smoke spreading throughout the valley. The concentration of smoke will vary as wind, fire behaviour and temperatures change. The advisory was announced Thursday morning by the B.C. Ministry of Environment. The Ministry is advising...
Fire closes Mt. Boucherie Park
KELOWNA - An interface fire Tuesday afternoon has prompted closure of Mt. Boucherie Park until fire crews finish putting out hot spots and the district can assess the risk. The fire began around 3 p.m. Tuesday and quickly grew to just over four hectares. West Kelowna fire crews were aided by B.C. Wildfire air tankers...
ARCHER: Appreciate local history before it’s lost
There’s an old adage that says “You never know what you had until it’s gone.” Yes, it’s a bit tacky to use cliches but it may be worth taking a closer look at the people and places in your life and recognize them before they go up in smoke. Earlier this week, Keremeos lost one...