Evacuation alert expands
UPDATE: 12:35 p.m.
The evacuation alert for the Bradley Creek FSR wildfire has been expanded once again for a number of properties up Six Mile Creek Road.
The wildfire burning in the Blacktown area of the Okanagan Indian Band has quickly grown to an estimated 200 hectares after it was first discovered late Friday night.
While a number of properties on OKIB land are already under an evacuation alert, the Regional District of North Okanagan has expanded the alert to include a number of properties along Six Mile Creek Road. The full list of properties can be found here.
No evacuation orders have been issued at this time. Those under an alert must be prepared to leave at a moment’s notice.
The BC Wildfire Service says the fire is currently exhibiting Rank 2 behaviour, which refers to a “low vigour surface fire with visible flame and unorganized flame front.”
Crews are working on both the north/northeast and south/southwest flanks of the fire. Ground crews are working to establish guards and laying hoses for water delivery, while helicopters are bucketing to help slow fire growth upslope.
Airtankers and skimmers are also working on the fire.
The BCWS has asked boaters to stay away from the area where aircraft are picking up water from Okanagan Lake.
Photo: BC Wildfire Service
The north flank of the Bradley Creek FSR wildfire Saturday morning.
UPDATE: 11:55 a.m.
Aerial resources are hitting the new wildfire burning near the north end of Okanagan Lake, but boaters are interfering with water pickup from the lake.
The Bradley Creek FSR wildfire was first discovered late Friday night and it has quickly grown to an estimated 200 hectares in size.
Helicopters have been assisting ground crews this morning, bucketing the blaze, and fixed-wing aircraft are now also working on the large fire.
But in a social media post, the BC Wildfire Service says boaters are getting too close to their aircraft on Okanagan Lake.
“Aerial resources supporting crews on the ground are experiencing challenges with boaters getting too close to our aircraft as they pick up water on Okanagan Lake,” the BCWS said.
“Our aircraft require space to collect water safely and efficiently. Please stay clear of aircraft working in and around the lake.”
The wildfire service asks boaters to clear the area immediately if firefighting aircraft are nearby, and to stay near the shore.
Ground crews with the Okanagan Indian Band Fire Department and the BC Wildfire Service continue to battle the fire. The BCWS says the fire’s fast growth is due to the grassy fuel type that burns quickly.
A number of properties in the area are under an evacuation alert, but no evacuation order has been put in place at this time.
UPDATE: 10:15 a.m.
Four helicopters are continually bucketing the new wildfire burning on Okanagan Indian Band land Saturday morning, as ground crews work to establish guards.
The fire was discovered late Friday night in the Blacktown area of the Okanagan Indian Band, above Westside Road, and it’s already grown to an estimated 200 hectares – double the estimated size from earlier this morning.
The BC Wildfire Service said the rapid growth is “predominately attributed to the grassy fuel type which burns fast and makes for a quicker rate of spread.”
In addition to the helicopters, the BCWS has seven three-person initial attack crews assisting the Okanagan Indian Band Fire Department, in addition to a structure protection specialist.
Airtankers do not appear to have responded to the fire at this time.
“Crews are focusing efforts on the north/northeast and south and southwest areas of the fire,” the BCWS says.
“They are working off of existing roads to establish guard and extending hoselay for water delivery to support direct attack and water delivery to the fire’s edge. Helicopters are also providing bucketing support to help slow fire growth up slope and cool down hotspots.”
Castanet reporter Darren Handschuh is on scene and says the fire is largely burning through grass and appears to be moving uphill, putting up plenty of smoke in the area.
The fire appears to be nearing the burn scar from the 2021 White Rock Lake fire.
A number of properties in the area have been placed under an evacuation alert, but no evacuation orders have been issued at this time.
Photo: OKIB
The expanded evacuation alert area.
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.”
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.
Photo: Contributed
A wildfire burns near Westside Road overnight.
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.
