Blue Mountain bushfire near Penticton sees little growth overnight
A wildfire in the South Okanagan is estimated at 54 acres and sees little growth overnight.
The Blue Mountain wildfire is located about seven miles west of Penticton and 15 miles north of the Keremeos Creek wildfire.
According to BC Wildfire Service (BCWS), the fire showed aggressive behavior shortly after the fire was noticed. Although the fire is classified as uncontrollable, aggressive activity has since abated.
“When the crews first arrived, they reported behavior from ranks three to four. This means an organized flame front with occasional caning and close-range spotting at the head of the fire,” said BCWS information officer Shaelee Stearns.
“We saw reduced activity [Saturday] evening and night, so the aggressive fire activity we initially saw has subsided.”
BC Wildfire said 25 bushfire personnel are currently on site along with heavy machinery to work to set up a machine guard around the fire.
A helicopter will support the crew throughout the day if needed.
The Penticton Indian Band issued an evacuation warning Friday for the Shingle Creek area due to the fire.
Four addresses are covered by the warning:
- 851 Shingle Creek
- 119 Big Valley Road
- 411 Big Valley Road
- 111 Shingle Creek
“This evacuation warning has been issued as a precaution against varying circumstances,” the Penticton Indian Band said in a statement.
“Please take this time to prepare to evacuate your premises or property should it prove necessary.”
Meanwhile, Environment Canada issued a special air quality statement for the Okanagan Valley on Saturday.
The statement was issued in light of several wildfires in the Kamloops Fire Center region, including the Keremeos Creek and Blue Mountain wildfires, as well as fires in Washington and Oregon.
“In much of the interior and northeast, there are smoke effects from wildfires or are expected to occur,” the national weather agency said.
