A B.C. Wildfire Service member conducting a planned ignition on the White Rock Lake wildfire, Aug. 25, 2021.
Image Credit: B.C. Wildfire Service
August 26, 2021 - 10:11 AM
A 600-hectare prescribed burn yesterday successfully removed forest fuels near the edge of the White Rock Lake wildfire to the north of Terrace Mountain and in the Fintry area.
The White Rock Lake wildfire is currently mapped at 82,000 hectares in size and classified as out of control.
Today, Aug. 26, B.C. Wildfire Service crews are extinguishing deep burning fuels that are persistent throughout the east flank of the fire as a result of severe drought conditions and are making good progress along the fire’s south, west and northern flanks, according to the service.
The wildfire is burning to the west of Vernon and along Westside Road.
Yesterday, planned ignitions successfully secured the fire perimeter burning north of Terrace Mountain in the Central Okanagan and west towards the fire perimeter above Shorts Creek (along the southeast flank) in the Fintry Protected Area.
“The aerial ignitions removed approximately 600 hectares of fuel between the fire's edge and the pre-established control line,” according to the wildfire service.
B.C. Hydro crews are making good progress along Westside Road to remove dangerous trees and restore power lines where required. During a wind event Aug. 15, there was a substantial amount of damage to power lines and restoring damages is crucial to ensure safety for residents before they return home, according to the wildfire service.
The White Rock Lake's fire perimeter (outlined in red).
Image Credit: BC Wildfire Service
A 350 ha planned ignition operation on Aug 24, successfully brought the fire's edge down to workable ground along the northeastern flank. Planned ignition operations are critical in areas where the fire perimeter is inoperable and unsafe for ground crews and heavy equipment to work, according to the wildfire service.
The ignition was critical to securing the area east of the larger-scale planned ignition set to occur in the coming week.
Winds today are not favourable for a 3,000 ha ignition operation planned for the fire's northeast flank to the west of Okanagan Lake. When site conditions are favourable, additional information will be provided prior to ignition, according to the wildfire service.
For more information on evacuation orders and alerts, visit the Columbia-Shuswap Regional District, Regional District of North Okanagan, Thompson- Nicola Regional District, Splatsin, Okanagan Indian Band, Regional District of Central Okanagan, City of Vernon, or Township of Spallumcheen’s websites.
The Central Okanagan emergency operations centre is holding a virtual information session today for residents and owners of properties under evacuation order due to the White Rock Lake wildfire. Officials will answer questions submitted online. The public at large can also attend.
Residents can submit questions online here until noon.
The public information session is from 6 to 7:30 p.m. today via the regional district's YouTube channel here.
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