The Park Hill Wildfire, about 15 km northeast of Keremeos, was discovered June 24, 2021.
Image Credit: FACEBOOK/B.C. Wildfire Service
June 25, 2021 - 10:27 AM
Three wildfires started in the South Okanagan yesterday with one reaching almost 50 hectares in size before being held by firefighters.
The Park Hill wildfire is located south of Highway 3A, about 15 kilometres northeast of Keremeos, according to the B.C. Wildfire Service’s wildfire map. The cause of the fire is currently unknown and it was discovered yesterday, June 24.
Sam Ryan, fire information officer, said the fire is currently being held at 47 hectares and is not threatening any structures. Area residents reported their concern for the Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory on social media but Ryan noted it is six kilometres away from the fire.
READ MORE: B.C. Wildfire Service ready for heat wave in southern Interior
The fire is visible from the highway, she said. The service has 40 personnel on site today and will use helicopters as needed.
The Shuttle Creek wildfire — roughly four km north of Keremeos and adjacent to Highway 3A — is 0.01 hectare in size and is under control, Ryan said. The Keremeos Fire Department initially called for held from the wildfire service yesterday but had already dealt with the fire by the time wildfire crews arrived. It did not threaten any structures. The cause is currently unknown.
The Madellaine Lake wildfire northwest of Penticton, also discovered yesterday, is now out. It was initially reported at 0.01 hectares in size. The cause of the fire is unknown.
READ MORE: Peak of heat wave in Okanagan, Kamloops will be record-breaking: meteorologists
The hot, dry conditions pose a challenge for firefighters but they are prepared for the weather, Ryan said.
Temperatures across the Okanagan and in Kamloops are expected to reach 40 C or hotter this weekend and heading into next week.
Three wildfires were sparked in the South Okanagan, Thursday June 25, 2021 and are represented by the orange diamonds on this screen shot from a B.C. Wildfire Service map.
Image Credit: B.C. Wildfire Service
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