A 12-hectare wildfire forced the evacuation of several homes near Osoyoos Monday evening. Fourteen firefighters are on the ground with 20 more on the way.
Image Credit: B.C. Wildfire
August 20, 2013 - 8:06 AM
OSOYOOS - A human-caused wildfire, which prompted residents from two homes on Old Richter Passage Road to evacuate and assemble at Sonora Community Centre in Osoyoos, has been fully contained. Evacuation orders have been lifted. Investigators will be on scene today to determine the specific causes.
B.C. Wildfire spokesperson Michaela Swan says crews worked overnight to contain a wildfire located near Spotted Lake, 10 kilometres west of Osoyoos. There were five air tankers and two choppers in the air supporting the 35 firefighters on the ground last night but the number was reduced to 20 firefighters as the fire was brought under control. There will be 10 firefighters coming on site this morning to replace the overnight crew and keep a handle on any hot spots.
Last night crews were trying to establish control lines and slow the spread of this fast moving grass and sage brush fire by getting water around the perimeter. While the wildfire burned close to the homes in the area they were not considered an immediate threat to any structures as of 8:45 p.m.
Cooler temperatures and cloudier conditions have not reduced the fire danger rating which remains high across the region, Swan said.
To report a wildfire or prohibited campfire, call *5555 on your cellular phone or toll-free at 1-800-663-5555. For the latest information on current wildfire activity burning restrictions, road closures and air quality advisories, go to www.bcwildfire.ca.
To contact a reporter for this story, to send photos or videos, email Shannon Quesnel at squesnel@infotelnews.ca, call 250-488-3065 or tweet @shannonquesnel1
Credit: InfoTel News
Fire near Osoyoos.
—This story was last updated at 10:02 a.m. Aug. 20, 2013.
News from © iNFOnews, 2013