Expect more smoke, fire in South Okanagan as crews battling wildfire conduct planned ignitions | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
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Penticton News

Expect more smoke, fire in South Okanagan as crews battling wildfire conduct planned ignitions

Firefighters next to the Keremeos Creek wildfire, Aug. 6, 2022
Image Credit: TWITTER/B.C. Wildfire Service

Firefighters battling a large wildfire near Penticton are taking advantage of the winds today and will be conducting planned ignitions.

B.C. Wildfire Service information officer Mikhail Elsay said two planned ignitions near the Keremeos Creek Wildfire, burning to the southwest of Penticton, will take place today in order to bring the fire to ideal fire fighting conditions.

The first ignition, roughly 30 ha in size, will take place on the fire’s southern flank, north of the community of Ollala.

READ MORE: Community delivers food to firefighters battling South Okanagan wildfire

Yesterday, Aug. 6, firefighters placed hand guards in the area.

“This is the next step, to secure the hand guard is to sort of bring the fire to the hand guard’s edge under controlled conditions,” he said.

Planned ignitions help reduce fire spread by eliminating available fuel between the fire perimeter and a control line – a natural or constructed barrier that is used to help contain a fire, according to the B.C. Wildfire Service.

The wildfire is currently burning in rocky terrain above Ollala but in order for crews to create a secure control line, they need to bring it to safe grounds where crews can extinguish it, Elsay said.

Another ignition will be conducted on the fire’s northeastern corner to obtain the same results.

“There will be increased visible fire and smoke throughout the day but it’s all planned,” Elsay said. “The calmer winds are the biggest thing we’re trying to capitalize on right now.”

Winds are blowing at only 10 km/hr so the next 24 to 48 hours will be crucial for the firefighter’s progress, he said.

Most people have been obeying evacuation orders and staying away from firefighting operations but there have been a few instances where people were operating in unsafe areas where firefighters were trying to suppress the fire, he said.

The fire is still mapped at 5,903 ha in size. There are 213 wildland firefighters with an additional 168 structural protection personnel from fire departments across B.C. fighting the fire today.

There are also 16 helicopters and 43 pieces of heavy equipment on site. Highway 3A remains closed between Upper Bench Road and the Highway 97 junction due to the fire.

More than 1,000 properties are under an evacuation order and more than 500 are on alert due to the fire. For more information on alerts and orders, visit the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen's and Penticton Indian Band’s websites.  

 


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