Wildfire, evac alerts grow
Photo: Contributed
A wildfire burns near Westside Road overnight.
UPDATE: 8:30 a.m.
The Okanagan Indian Band has expanded an evacuation alert due to the rapidly growing wildfire burning near the northern end of Okanagan Lake.
OKIB says that at the recommendation of the BC Wildfire Service, the alert has expanded to include all properties east of Six Mile Road and north of Westside Road to Mary Emeralds Bay Road.
This includes Royal Road, Marchand Road, Pebble Park Lane, Louis Road and all other properties that access off Westside Road within the mapped area, shown below.
No evacuation orders have been issued at this time.
The fire is currently estimated at 100 hectares in size. OKIB says BC Wildfire Crews are assessing homes in the area for structure protection, “out of an abundance of caution.”
Photo: OKIB
The expanded evacuation alert area.
UPDATE: 7:35 a.m.
The wildfire burning near the northern tip of Okanagan Lake has grown significantly overnight and is now estimated at 100 hectares.
The fire was first discovered Friday night, burning in the Blacktown area of the Okanagan Indian Band.
While the BC Wildfire Service had previously estimated the fire’s size at about 10 hectares, a Saturday morning update now lists it at 100 hectares.
The Okanagan Indian Band has issued an evacuation alert for a number of properties in the area.
Strong winds are expected across the Okanagan later in the day.
UPDATE: 6:45 a.m.
A number of properties have been placed under an evacuation alert due to the grass fire burning near the northern tip of Okanagan Lake Saturday morning.
The Okanagan Indian Band has issued the alert, warning that nearby residents should be ready to leave their homes at a moment’s notice.
The impacted properties include:
- Properties along Bonneau Road
- Properties along Pebble Park Lane
- Properties along Louis Road
- Properties along any roads north of Westside Road between Bonneau Road and Komasket Road
- 11454 Westside Road,11450 Westside Road, 11452 Westside Road, 11458 Westside Road, 11486 Westside Road, 11482 Westside Road
No evacuation order is in place at this time.
Earlier Saturday morning, OKIB said that crews from their fire department and BC Wildfire Service were working to create a perimeter around the grass fire, burning in the Blacktown area.
ORIGINAL: 6:20 a.m.
A wildfire burning above Westside Road has quickly grown to an estimated 10 hectares overnight.
The fire was first discovered Friday evening near the Bradley Creek forestry road, west of Westside Road near the northern tip of Okanagan Lake.
As of a 2 a.m. update, the BC Wildfire Service estimates the fire at 10 hectares in size, but it’s not clear if its grown additionally since then.
The fire is suspected to be human caused, although details about what started the fire have not been disclosed.
Castanet will have more information about the BC Wildfire Service’s response to the fire later this morning.
On Friday, the BC Wildfire Service warned of a cold front moving through B.C.’s Interior this weekend that could lead to new fire starts and increased fire behaviour.
Environment Canada is warning of gusting winds up to 80 km/h in the Okanagan later this afternoon.
Last weekend, a wildfire was sparked farther south along Westside Road near Fintry. Crews were able to bring the fire under control after it grew to just over five hectares.
Photo: BC Wildfire Service
The location of the Bradley Creek FSR wildfire.
