UPDATE: Cinnabar Creek wildfire 100 per cent contained; crews mopping up | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
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UPDATE: Cinnabar Creek wildfire 100 per cent contained; crews mopping up

A water bomber comes in for another pass while a commercial aircraft passes above.
Original Publication Date August 17, 2016 - 3:35 PM

UPDATE: 3:35 p.m., Aug. 18

Latest release from CORD Emergency Operaion Centre:

As a result of the excellent progress in fighting the Cinnabar Creek wildfire, the Central Okanagan Regional Emergency Operation Centre is now closed.

The B.C. Wildfire Service has taken control over the incident which is now in the mop up stage. Over the next few days these firefighters will be working to completely extinguish the blaze. Tonight a crew from the Wilson’s Landing fire department will monitor the fire to put out any hotspots.

Please stay out of the way of firefighters and emergency responders who are continuing to snuff out the fire. From time to time smoke and flames may be seen from the area of the almost 3-hectare blaze.

Westside Road is now completely open for all traffic north and southbound. Motorists should watch for and yield to any emergency vehicles.

UPDATE: 2:36 p.m., Aug. 18

Drive B.C. says Westside Road is now fully reopened to traffic. Expect delays due to congestion.

UPDATE: 10:16 a.m., Aug. 18

Latest release from CORD Emergency Operation Centre:

Ground crews are in the mop up stage for the Cinnabar Creek wildfire. It’s estimated to have burned approximately three hectares in steeper terrain above and west of Westside Road. The fire is now 100 per cent contained.

Firefighters and equipment from the Wilson’s Landing department are working on the fire with additional ground support as needed from the B.C. Wildfire Service.

People can expect over the coming days to see ongoing fire suppression efforts and fire fighters throughout the area as they work to fully extinguish the blaze. Please stay out of their way, do not drive over hose lines, and watch for and yield to emergency vehicles.

Westside Road remains single lane alternating traffic through the fire zone from just north of Lake Okanagan Resort to south of Denison Road.

For the latest road information please visit the Drive BC website, www.drivebc.ca.

UPDATE: 8:30 a.m. Aug. 18

The evacuation alert for residents near the Cinnabar Creek wildfire has been rescinded and Westside Road is now fully open to traffic.

UPDATE: 6:25 a.m. Aug. 18

Calm winds and cooler temperatures overnight provided good conditions for fire crews working on the 2.8-hectare Cinnabar Creek wildfire off Westside Road.

Approximately 20 BC Wildfire Service fire fighters along with structural fire fighters from the Wilson’s Landing, North Westside and West Kelowna departments conducted patrols throughout the fire zone.  No problems were reported.

The Evacuation Alert for the Cinnabar Creek wildfire remains in effect for Lake Okanagan Resort, Camp Owaissi and Camp Mewata.  Residents and visitors must be prepared to leave with short notice should fire conditions change.  The status of the Alert will be reviewed as the day progresses.

Starting at 6:30, Westside Road will be open to single lane alternating traffic through the fire zone just north of Lake Okanagan Resort and south of Denison Road.

UPDATE: 9:05 p.m. Aug. 17.

Latest release from CORD Emergency Operation Centre:

The Evacuation Alert for the Cinnabar Creek wildfire remains in effect overnight.

That means that residents and visitors affected by the Alert at Lake Okanagan Resort, Camp Owaissi and Camp Mewata must be prepared to leave with short notice should fire conditions change.

The wildfire is estimated by BC Wildfire Service at 2.8-hectares in size.  It was reported shortly after 3 this afternoon and saw an immediate response from two area fire departments.

Overnight, firefighters and equipment from several agencies will remain on site to monitor the fire, conduct patrols and deal with any hot spots.  Structural firefighters from Wilson’s Landing and North Westside paid-on-call departments are being supported by those from West Kelowna Fire Rescue and approximately 20 firefighters from the BC Wildfire Service.

Please be aware during the overnight hours there may be smoke, visible flame and reduced visibility throughout the area.

It’s anticipated the next update on the fire will be delivered after 9 a.m. tomorrow after an assessment is done on overnight progress and a determination is made on a plan of attack.

A portion of Westside Road will remain closed overnight.  RCMP have set up roadblocks for all traffic on Westside Road, north of Lake Okanagan Resort and just south of Denison Road.  Residents are still able to access Dennison Road.  For the latest road information please visit the Drive BC website, www.drivebc.ca.

The Emergency Operation Centre has been activated to support crews in the field responding to this incident.

New information will be released to the public through the media and cordemergency.ca as soon as it becomes available.

UPDATE: 7:46 p.m. Aug. 17

WEST KELOWNA – Fire crews were quick to jump on a wildfire on the west side of Okanagan Lake north of West Kelowna today.

The Cinnabar Creek fire was reported around 3 p.m., Aug. 17, along Westside Road about two kilometres north of Lake Okanagan Resort.

Max Birkner with B.C. Wildfire said the 2.8 hectare wildfire is not threatening any structures. When firefighters first arrived there was open flame and candling visible. A gusty north wind helped the fire grow quickly.

Along with an initial attack crew, B.C. Wildfire responded with a spotter aircraft, an air tanker which dropped retardent on the blaze, along with water tanker aircraft scooping from the lake. Over 40 firefighters from local fire halls in Wilson's Landing, North Westside and West Kelowna worked to put the fire.. 

RCMP officers in police boats were out on the water getting boaters — who gathered to watch the fire from the lake — to move along. 

The regional district's Emergency Operations Centre was activated to support the response to the wildfire, according a media release.

An evacuation alert has been issued for Camp Owaissi, Lake Okanagan Resort, Camp Mewata. Residents should be prepared to leave their homes on short notice should conditions require an evacuation order.

A piece of Westside Road has been closed.

RCMP have set up roadblocks south of Lake Okanagan Resort and just south of Dennison Road. Residents are still able to access Dennison Road, the Emergency Operation Centre says.

Drivers going south on Westside Road are being stopped just south of La Casa Resort and allowed to proceed if they live in the area.

Despite the evacuation alert, it's business as usual at Lake Okanagan Resort.

"We're kind of used to it," long time front desk manager Cindy said. "We're aware of the fire but we've been here for a lot of years. We will be calm and patient and if they tell us to go, we'll go."

The RCMP boat from West Kelowna was called in to clear the fire area of boats so water bombers could work safely.
The RCMP boat from West Kelowna was called in to clear the fire area of boats so water bombers could work safely.

A water bomber skims the lake while a recently cleared boater looks on.
A water bomber skims the lake while a recently cleared boater looks on.

An air tanker drops a load of retardant on a wildfire burning just north of Lake Okanagan Resort on the west side of Okanagan Lake, Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2016.
An air tanker drops a load of retardant on a wildfire burning just north of Lake Okanagan Resort on the west side of Okanagan Lake, Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2016.

Up to four water bombers hit the blaze at a time.
Up to four water bombers hit the blaze at a time.

A bird dog circles overhead while the water bombers hit the fire.
A bird dog circles overhead while the water bombers hit the fire.

The Cinnabar Creek wildfire north of West Kelowna on the west side of Okanagan Lake can be seen in this aerial photo contributed by the B.C. Wildfire Service, Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2016.
The Cinnabar Creek wildfire north of West Kelowna on the west side of Okanagan Lake can be seen in this aerial photo contributed by the B.C. Wildfire Service, Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2016.
Image Credit: Contributed/B.C. Wildfire Service

Smoke from a wildfire burning north of Lake Okanagan Resort on the west side of Okanagan Lake can be seen from Knox Mountain in Kelowna.
Smoke from a wildfire burning north of Lake Okanagan Resort on the west side of Okanagan Lake can be seen from Knox Mountain in Kelowna.

A fire is burning north of Lake Okanagan Resort on the west side of Okanagan Lake, Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2017.
A fire is burning north of Lake Okanagan Resort on the west side of Okanagan Lake, Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2017.
Image Credit: Bogey @bogey353 via Twitter

— This story was updated at 4:09 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2016 to add information from B.C. Wildfire and Lake Okanagan Resort.

— This story was updated at 5:20 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2016 to add new information from the Emergency Operation Centre.

— This story was updated at 7:35 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2016 to add new information about the closure of Westside Road.


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News from © iNFOnews, 2016
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