UPDATE: White Rock Lake wildfire doesn't damage structures overnight | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
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UPDATE: White Rock Lake wildfire doesn't damage structures overnight

The White Rock Lake wildfire, Aug. 6, 2021.
Image Credit: FACEBOOK/Kane Blake

No structures were damaged last night by the White Rock Lake wildfire, burning in the North Okanagan.

“North Westside fire fighters are continuing to work in the residential neighbourhoods within reach of the fire. Patrols looking for hot spots continued overnight, even with the heavy smoke,” said Alex Van Bruksvoort, North Westside fire chief, in a Central Okanagan Emergency Operations Centre press release.

“Today the crews will monitor the significant number of pumps and water sources that have been put in place. We’ll also be testing and practicing, to make sure the equipment starts up at a moment’s notice if it is needed.”

The wildfire, now listed at 62,273 hectares in size, grew north of the Fintry Protected Area last night, according to the B.C. Wildfire Service’s latest update this morning.

The fire is roughly 1.5 kilometres north of the Fintry Protected Area at its closest point and 3.5 km northwest of Fintry Park.

There was no major growth on the fire overnight, but today winds gusting up to 60 km/hr is expected from the south to southwest.

“There will most likely be a significant increase in fire activity today starting in the afternoon. Heavy equipment, ground crews, and helicopters are strategically positioned to priority areas on the fire that are expected to be the most challenging along the north, northeast, and east flanks,” according to the wildfire service.

The City of Vernon and surrounding area is experiencing falling ash and darkened skies due to the nearby White Rock Lake and Tremont Creek wildfires, according to the B.C. Wildfire Service.

"The White Rock Lake wildfire is not moving in an eastern direction towards the City of Vernon, but is actively burning north of the Fintry Protection Area on the south flank of the wildfire, and is also actively burning west of Naswhito Creek. Fuels within the fire perimeter and along the north and south flank are burning, however there is no significant rate of spread."

The fire has not crossed any control lines north of Highway 97 is the Monte Lake, Paxton Valley Road area or along the northeast flank all the way south.

Evacuation orders and alerts remain in effect for the Columbia-Shuswap Regional District, Regional District of North Okanagan, Thompson- Nicola Regional District, Splatsin, Okanagan Indian Band,
Regional District of Central Okanagan, the City of Vernon and Township of Spallumcheen.

There are 194 wildland firefighters, 143 structure protection personnel, 16 helicopters, 15 danger tree assessors, 45 pieces of heavy equipment and an incident management team on site today with additional support staff.

The wildfire has destroyed multiple homes in the Monte Lake areas as well as Westside Road.

READ MORE: 28 homes, one commercial structure destroyed in Monte Lake area due to wildfire

- This story was updated Aug. 15, 2021 at 9:30 a.m. to provide information on structures.


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