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Testalinden Creek Fire

Oliver and area residents could see increase in smoke as winds pick up

PENTICTON - Cooler, wetter weather slowed the Testalinden Creek fire on the weekend, but strong winds could give the blaze some renewed vigour this afternoon. B.C. Wildfire spokesperson Heather Rice says the calmer, cooler conditions over the weekend and this morning, Aug. 31, have decreased fire activity. Rice says while the fire has not grown...

UPDATE: Evacuation order expands near Testalinden Creek wildfire

PENTICTON - The evacuation order issued earlier this afternoon for residents near the Testalinden Creek wildfire has been expanded to include recreational areas and Crown land. The recreational areas around Burnell (Sawmill) Lake, Ripley Lake and Madden Lake, to the west of Oliver have been placed within the expanded evacuation order today, Aug. 28. As...

Fire crews anxiously watch weather at Testalinden Creek

PENTICTON -  B.C. Wildfire firefighters expect to spend an anxious day on the front lines in the battle against the Testalinden Creek wildfire with strong wind in the forecast. Fire information officer Heather Rice says the wind is expected to pick up from the south around noon today, Aug. 28, which could be detrimental to...

Evacuation alert expanded for Testalinden Creek wildfire

PENTICTON - A forecast for increased wind has resulted in an expansion of the evacuation alert for the Testalinden Creek wildfire. The Regional District Okanagan-Similkameen issued the evacuation alert expansion late in the day yesterday, August 27. The notice applies to properties north of the Testalinden Creek fire area, along Tinhorn Creek, Old Golf Course...

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Evacuation Alert for Wilsons Mountain Fires - Rescinded UPDATE: 4:30 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 23, 2015 Due to the Wilson’s Mountain fire no longer being a threat, the Evacuation Alert issued Aug 15th, 2015 has been rescinded. Evacuation alerts for the Wilsons Mountain Fire near Oliver have been rescinded for the following area: %%image7%% For more...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 grounds air operations at Testalinden Creek fire

OLIVER – With visibility down to less than a kilometre at times, B.C. Wildfire won’t be using any air tankers or helicopters in the fight against the wildfire near Oliver. The smoke plumes from the giant forest fires burning in Washington State, including the 168-square kilometre Stickpin fire about 4.5 kilometres south of the Canada-US...

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...

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...

The danger of drones in wildfire zones

PENTICTON - One of the members of the B.C. Wildfire aircrew who spotted the drone flying over the Testalinden Creek fire near Oliver Sunday says it was pure luck they saw the unmanned aerial vehicle or UAV. The errant drone prompted an immediate grounding of eight helicopters and five planes, and as a result, the...

B.C. Wildfire reporting progress on Oliver wildfires

OLIVER, B.C. – The wildfires burning in the heart of the Okanagan’s wine country continue to threaten prized vineyards and orchards with scores of residents still out of their homes, but B.C. Wildfire says there has been significant progress in the fight against the blazes. Two fires are raging near the picturesque tourist town of...

Uneasy calm in Oliver after frantic night firefighting and evacuating

PENTICTON - Hundreds of people remain out of their homes as crews continue to battle the two wildfires in the Oliver area today. There is an uneasy calm after the frantic firefighting and evacuations last night. Smoke plumes dot the mountainsides west of the community today, Aug. 15, after the Wilsons Mountain and Testalinden Creek fires...

UPDATE: Crews battling two wildfires near Oliver

PENTICTON – The fight continues today to get a handle on the pair of wildfires burning near Oliver, which have forced hundreds out of their homes and destroyed a house. The wildfires broke out yesterday, Aug. 14, and grew quickly thanks to high winds pushing the flames through grass, sage and open timber, forcing the...