Finlay creek forest fire near Peachland

Shelby Thom‏Verified account @Shelby_Thom

#BREAKING Finlay Creek fire near #Peachland now 1000 hectares in size, according to BC Wildfire Service

Further information:

BC Wildfire Service

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BC Wildfire: Feds Rarely Match Charitable Donations When Disasters Strike In Canada

Mia Rabson  

Canadian Press

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau encouraged people over the weekend to donate to the Canadian Red Cross to help British Columbians affected by raging wildfires and he made a similar appeal for Ontario and Quebec flood victims earlier this year.

However unlike many international disasters like the earthquakes in Nepal two years ago or in Haiti in 2010, Canada's appeal for domestic donations isn't shored up by a pledge that the government will pony up an equal amount of cash to match the individual donors. Read more

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I find it reprehensible that the Canadian Government places Canadian disaster survivors below those of foreign country disaster survivors. Don't you? 

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UPDATE: Nighthawk fire renamed Okanagan Centre Fire grows to 30 hectares

 Kelowna   posted July 15, 2017 by   KelownaNow Staff

(UPDATE: July 15th @ 8:30 p.m.)- The Nighthawk fire has been renamed the Okanagan Centre Fire.

Wildfire BC is supporting the local Lake Country Fire Department fight the Okanagan Centre Fire.

Currently the fire has grown to 30 hectares in size.

There are 11 fixed winged aircrafts, one helicopter and ground crews on the scene.

It is showing rank three fire behaviour, meaning it's a larger surface fire that might see some candling into the trees.

It's located between McKinley Landing and Lake Country.

Structures are threatened.

There is no cause as of yet.

Strong winds is increasing the fire activity. (read more)

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Okanagan sunshine? - Kalamalka Lake in the blazing sun!

Smoke from hundreds of forest fires obscure the sun in the generally sunny Okanagan. First the floods put a damper on outdoor activities now the fires do the same. Up to 14,000 residents have been evacuated in various parts of the Central Interior. An entire trailer park burned down is Cache Creek. The map below depicts the current fire situation in British Columbia.

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News Fire sparked off Highway 97

• by  Jennifer Smith - Vernon Morning Star
  
• posted Jul 17, 2015 at 2:00 PM— updated Jul 17, 2015 at 3:13 PM

A grass fire has been sparked off Highway 97 in the Round Lake Road area just 15 kilometres outside of Vernon.

The Armstrong Spallumcheen Fire Department is currently on scene, along with B.C. Wildfire crews and an air bomber is being deployed to try and stop the fire in its tracks.

"It looks like it is just in the grass right now," said Kelsey Winter, fire information officer, Friday at 3 p.m.

"It is .5 hectares in size and it is burning rank two or three so it's a moderate rate of spread."

Along with a hot and dry forecast, there is concerns about another force of Mother Nature.

"It's very windy out there today," said Winter.

But she is hopeful the fire can be extinguished quickly.

"We're sending a lot of resources."

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but Winter points out that it burning just off the highway.

"There's wasn't lightning in that area today."

So far this year there have been 234 fires in the Kamloops region, with 28 of those in Vernon, representing six hectares burned. Almost half of those were human-caused.

"Last year at this time you were at 17," said Winter.

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West Kelowna Fire 30% Contained

Written by Peter McIntyre Sunday, 20 July 2014 08:00

 

A Type 1 Ontario Incident Management team has now assumed command on the Smith Creek fire in West Kelowna.

The transition will bring increased support staff to help manage the wildfire which started two days ago.

The team is looking forward to continuing progress and positive efforts on the suspected human caused fire, which is estimated at 260 hectares and is approximately 30 per cent contained.

Collaboration with the West Kelowna, Peachland, Lake Country and Kelowna fire departments continues. Personnel from the Wildfire Management Branch will also continue to support efforts on this fire in various roles.

Increased fire activity was seen once again Saturday as a result of unburned fuels igniting within the fire's interior. The fire has not exceeded guards or retardant lines. Potential for downhill creep exists this evening as strong winds continue.

The evacuation orders for 1,100 homes and about 2,500 residents are still in effect.

Breaking trees may be noticed within the vicinity of the fire as a result of these strong winds. Fire fighters may be removed from these areas of concern for safety reasons. Other methods of suppression will be tactically considered when safety concerns are present. (more)

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Photo gallery -Landfill fire spreading over the commonage and how well the choppers and bomber performed at a very dangerous job! - Debbie

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Homes near landfill fire on evacuation alert

By Charlotte Helston

Flames rise after a wood grinder malfunctioned at the Vernon landfill and sparked a large fire which has spread to nearby grass.

(CHARLOTTE HELSTON /InfoTel Multimedia)

August 19, 2013 - 9:28 PM

UPDATE: 9 p.m. August 19
Firefighters remain on scene battling a large blaze at the Vernon landfill off Birnie Road.
"There's still a lot of open flame on the north side of the landfill, and a few spot fires," deputy fire chief Jack Blair says. "We're hitting it hard, and we're making headway."
Blair says large flames from a burning pile of wood are covering about half a hectare, while sparks are flying out over a space of ten hectares. Ground crews are focussing on three main hot spots right now. Helicopters were called off at nightfall.
Residents on nearby Clerke Road have been notified by police to be ready to leave if they are put on evacuation notice.
"Anything could happen. I'd be prepared to evacuate if need be," Blair says.
Crews will remain on scene overnight, and residents will be alerted by police if they need to evacuate.
The Greater Vernon Landfill will be closed to customers until further notice.

VERNON - Smoke and flames continue to rise as firefighters battle a blaze at the Vernon landfill.
Deputy fire chief Jack Blair says the fire started around 4:30 p.m. when a wood grinder malfunctioned, caught fire, and sent a spew of fiery materials onto nearby wood piles, and then onto the dry grasslands around the landfill. The operator of the machine escaped from the fire, and Blair says no one else was harmed.
"It expanded quite quickly in the windy conditions," Blair says of the 0.5 ha fire.
There are currently 50 firefighters on the ground, including some from the Wildfire Management Branch. Five fire engines are also on scene. Blair hopes to get a few water bombers in shortly as well.
"There's another fire east of Osoyoos," Blair says. "Our resources here have been stretched thin."
There are no homes or structures in the immediate vicinity, but the fire department is contemplating an evacuation of homes on Clerk Road if the fire progresses.
"We are very concerned about it spreading," Blair says.
Between the piles of wood and the dry organic material in the area, Blair says there's lots of fuel for the fire.
Firefighters are working hard to contain the fire and prevent sparks, Blair says.
This is the second fire at the landfill in recent months, with the first devastating the recycling facility in March.
Blair says it's a challenging location to fight a fire because it has very limited access to water.
"We need more manpower here, and more water available," he says.
At 7 p.m. large flames continued to bloom from the origin of the fire, and fire could be seen moving north up the hillside toward the City of Vernon.
To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infotelnews.ca or call 250-309-5230.

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Arizona wildfire near Yarnell kills 19 firefighters

At least 19 US firefighters have been killed battling a wildfire in central Arizona, local officials say.

They died while fighting the blaze threatening the town of Yarnell, about 80 miles (130km) north-west of Phoenix.

The fire was started by lightning on Friday and has spread rapidly to 2,000 acres (800 ha) amid high heat, low humidity and strong winds.

Arizona and other parts of the western US - including California - had near-record temperatures over the weekend.

It is the highest death toll for firefighters in a single incident since 9/11. more

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West Kelowna Forest Fire -September 6, 2011.

Forest fire near Kelowna apparently human-caused say police

ADRIAN NIEOCZYM

KELOWNA, B.C.— Special to Globe and Mail Update

Published Tuesday, Sep. 06, 2011 7:52AM EDT

Last updated Tuesday, Sep. 06, 2011 3:33PM EDT

A wildfire near West Kelowna, B.C. that has forced the evacuation of approximately 550 people appears to be human-caused, police say.

The fire was reported shortly after 10 p.m. Monday night on a steep hillside near Bear Creek Provincial Park. Dale Bojahra, incident commander with the B.C. Wildfire Branch, described it as an “aggressive surface fire” that quickly grew from about three hectares to almost 39 hectares.

Flames came within 400 metres of homes in the Traders Cove subdivision along Westside Road. Police evacuated 106 homes and about 550 people, including 100 campers from the provincial park.

Another 25 to 30 homes are under an evacuation alert. Residents have been told to be ready to flee at a moments notice.

At a press conference, RCMP Corporal Dan Moskaluk, said investigators believe people caused the fire but could not elaborate.

“At this point the priority is the evacuation of the area and the well-being of the residents,” he said.

The fire is about 30 per cent contained, said Mr. Bojahara, and while no structures are currently in danger, crews are concerned about fire escaping the fire guards they have set up.

“We're a long ways from being contained at this point,” said Mr. Bojahra.

Approximately 18 West Kelowna firefighters are working on the blaze, along with 16 personnel from the provincial Wildfire Branch. They are being helped by four helicopters with water buckets.

It's a hot, sunny day in West Kelowna and with temperatures expected to be in the 30s, fire crews are bracing for a challenging day, said Mr. Bojahra.

The forested areas around Kelowna and West Kelowna are prone to wildfires but with an unusually wet and cool July, it was a tame summer. Last month however, was the fifth-driest August on record and fire season appears to have finally arrived.

“This year I wasn't anticipating this,” said West Kelowna Fire Chief, Wayne Schnitzler. “I thought we were through the season.”

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See also CBC report

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West Kelowna wildfire spurs evacuation alert

Authorities have ordered an evacuation alert as firefighters battle a blaze just north of West Kelowna, B.C.

Fire Information Officer Elise Riedlinger said the fire was reported at around 1 p.m. Sunday in Traders Cove, an area bordering Bear Creek Provincial Park.

Residents living on nearby Rose Valley Road and Bear Creek Road have be told to prepare to leave their homes at a moment's notice.

The fire, which is estimated at roughly two hectares in size, is in the West Kelowna Fire Department's jurisdiction. The department dispatched 20 firefighters to combat the blaze with help from the Kamloops Fire Centre.

"The centre is assisting with air tankers, two initial attack crews, a repel crew from Salmon Arm, and two bucketing helicopters," Riedlinger said.

The cause has not been determined.

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Terrace Fire: 75% Contained -- KISS FM

Written by Peter McIntyre

Tuesday, 11 August 2009 09:35

The change in the weather has helped crews gain more control over the Terrace Mountain Fire.

The more than three week old blaze is now 75 percent contained.

The BC Forest Service says the cooler, moist weather has given firefighters the break they needed to strengthen fireguards.

A total of 642 personnel are now working on the fire.

Fresh firefighters arrived Monday from Saskatchewan to reinforce the crews already in place from BC, Ontario and Quebec.

An incident management team from Ontario is in the process of transitioning to the California incident management team which will assume command of the fire on Wednesday.

Changes were made to the evacuation order Monday, allowing 633 residents from Lake Okanagan Resort, Wilson Landing, Pine Point subdivision, and Bear Lake Main to kilometre 13 marker, to return to their homes, but remain under short notice evacuation alert.

1,517 residents remain on evacuation order.

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Fire information update -- Terrace Mountain Fire grows slightly

Kelowna Capital News
Updated: August 07, 2009 3:36 PM

The Terrace Mountain forest fire continued to burn out of control as the weekend got underway, keeping more than 2,000 people from their homes.

Residents in Caesar’s Landing, Nahun, Shelter Cove, District lots off South Terrace Main, Wilson’s Landing, Fintry Provincial Park, Upper Fintry, Fintry Delta, Muirallen Estates, Valley of the Sun and La Casa remained evacuated as of Friday afternoon.

The blaze grew a further 200 hectares Thursday night and into Friday morning.

As a result, an estimated 2,526 residents were also kept on evacuation alert and were told to be prepared to leave their homes at a moment’s notice.

Areas on evacuation alert were Ewings Landing, Estamont, Summersands, Aspen Shores, Killiney Beach, Marchbank, Wainman Cove, Westshore, Beau Park, Evely Forest Recreation site, Traders Cove, Bear Creek Provincial Park and residences from 524 to 1075 Bear Creek Road north.

Those on evacuation order and who required Emergency Social Services assistance were asked to appear in person Friday at the reception centre in Mount Boucherie Senior Secondary School, 2751 Cameron Road in West Kelowna. The centre issued referral extensions to those residents still needing vouchers for food and accommodation. The extensions expire Aug. 14 at 11:00 a.m.

As of Friday however, only permanent residents were eligible for the extensions under the Provincial Emergency Program.

The Ministry of Forests says the Terrace Mountain forest fire remains active with a flare up occurring Thursday night, which was fanned by northerly winds along the eastern slopes of the mountain.

No structures were threatened. The fire was estimated at 8,550 hectares.

Air tankers continue to lay retardant and bucketing helicopters are dropping Thermo-Gel along the southern flank.

This weekend, RCMP are providing marina and boat rental companies with maps and asking that they advise customers to keep boat activity from the centre of Okanagan Lake to the eastern shoreline, away from the evacuation area, so that fire fighting air crews have clear access for water pickups.

Similar information is also available at local boat launches.

Westside Road remained closed at the intersection of Bear Lake Main, including the forest service road to the 13 kilometre marker. The northern boundary of the evacuation area was Baziw Orchards, just south of Ewings Landing.

For the latest Emergency Operation Centre news releases, detailed maps and other information regarding the Terrace Mountain forest fire, visit the regional district website www.regionaldistrict.com and click on the Terrace Mountain Fire icon.

For more information on other forest fires in the province visit www.bcwildfire.ca or call 1-888-336-7378.

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Fire information update -- Some residents will be allowed to return.

While the Terrace Mountain fire is still out of control some 363 residents will be allowed to return to their homes tomorrow morning in the Traders Cove and the Bear Creek North areas, according to CHBC News. For further information please visit:

http://chbcnews.ca/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=18116

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B.C. ponders calling on foreign help to battle wildfires -- TheStar.com

August 04, 2009
THE CANADIAN PRESS

VANCOUVER – Officials in British Columbia are considering calling in reinforcements from the U.S. and Australia for added help in battling the forest fires raging in the province's interior.

Fire personnel from Ontario, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, among others, have already arrived in B.C. as the province suffers through a season that's already seen more than 2,200 fires.

Radha Fisher of the B.C. Forest Service says a formal decision on calling in reinforcements has not yet been made but she says it's definitely on the table.

Thousands of British Columbians are currently evacuated as the province is hit with tinder-dry conditions and record-setting temperatures.

More than 2,000 residents from the town of Lillooet were evacuated on Sunday night, after a fire that was one kilometre away from the community for days suddenly took a turn for the worse. That blaze, on Mount McLean, grew to more than 33 square kilometres Monday and officials say high winds could fan the flames even more.

Another blaze near Fintry has forced out 2,500 residents and 2,200 others are on evacuation alert

The provincial forest firefighting budget for this year was $61 million, but a Ministry of Forests spokesman says fighting the fires has already cost the province $109 million.

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Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park fire -- Update.

Your roaming reporter surveyed the damage caused by yesterday's fire in Kal Lake Park. The attached photos are a pictorial review of the damage and the ongoing mop up operations.

The fire covered in my rough estimation about 10-20 hectares (don't hold me to it). The location of the fire was between the Red Gate Road and the main parking lot above the Grassland trail. The CTV report mistakenly referred to the location as the Cozens Bay area. That is not correct.

While reviewing the photos contemplate our fortunate escape from a potential major disaster and remember to be extremely careful while visiting the park in the future.

The Eagle.

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Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park fire.

A significant fire broke out in Kal Lake Park around 5 PM today. Immediate action was taken by the Forest Service originally by four or five smaller water bombers followed by huge retardant bombers. Suppression crew was standing by to mop up the operation. Hopefully, there won't be any evacuation of nearby residents, including this writer. We must appreciate the immediate action of all agencies that responded to the call, including our own Fire Department. Their quick action prevented a major disaster.

The cause of the fire appears to be human origin reinforcing the need to be very vigilant and obey the no smoking signs posted at the Park entrances. The most likely cause of this fire was an extinguished discarded cigarette.

The Eagle.

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Fire information update -- Concern continues over high winds

Kelowna Capital News
Judie Steeves

Published: August 03, 2009 10:00 AM
Updated: August 03, 2009 10:28 AM

The forest service is reporting this morning that the Terrace Mountain wildfire had minimal growth overnight, but the concern for today is the weather forecast expectation that winds will pick up.

The status of Evacuation Orders and Alerts will remain unchanged. It is estimated there are 2,500 people on Evacuation Order and another 2,200 on Alert.

Volunteers with the Emergency Social Services reception centre at Mount Boucherie Secondary School continue to provide assistance for food and lodging to evacuees.

Since the reception centre re-opened late Saturday afternoon when the Terrace Mountain wildfire kicked up again, more than 1,100 people have registered with ESS.

As the weekend has progressed, more hotel and motel rooms have become available as tourists head home from the long weekend, allowing ESS to find more accommodation for evacuated Westside residents.

Yesterday, forest firefighters had favourable weather conditions allowing them to make good progress on solidifying fire guards around the fire. So far, the fire has consumed 7,025 hectares and is about 30 per cent contained.

Helicopter and air tanker attack crews snuffed out hot spots on Saturday while the air tankers laid down 265,000 litres of fire retardant in constructing a 2.5 kilometres of fireguard.

On Saturday, the fire took off, jumping the east side fireguard and racing towards the Westside communities along the Okanagan Lake shoreline. Flames were seen within 100 metres in spots of La Casa while the fire spread into Shorts Creek canyon.

Elise Riedlinger, with the forest service Kamloops region fire centre, said the forecast higher winds could play havoc with firefighting efforts today.

"They made a lot of good progress yesterday with adding to the fireguards so hopefully that can continue today. But with higher winds forecast, a fire behaviour advisory remains in effect," she said.

The forest service is also reminding boaters to stay at least 400 metres away from the westside shoreline of all evacuated areas so that air attack equipment can have unhindered access to the lake.

Motorists are also advised that Westside Road remains closed at Baziw Orchards on the north side of the evacuation area and just south of Traders Cove. No access will be permitted.

The estimated 2,163 residents living in the following areas of Killiney and Westshore-Beau Park remain on evacuation alert and must be prepared to leave on a moment's notice:

Ewings Landing
Estamont
Summersands
Aspen Shores
Killiney Beach
Marchbank
Wainman Cove
Evely Forest Recreation Site

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Fire information update.

Update 09/08/02 6:23 p.m.

The low lying smoke has made it difficult to determine an accurate size of the fire. A spokesperson for B.C. Forest Service says the fire has grown throughout the day but said “it hasn’t been significant.”

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Update: Fire less than two kilometres from La Casa

Sunday, August 2nd, 2009

Update 12:30 p.m.

Dennis Beaudry of B.C. Forests says the fire is on the north side of Fintry/High Farm and burning downhill—it’s 80-100 metres from structures. EOC officials said firefighters have been working to prevent fires on those homes. There’s also fire on the hill 1-1.5 kilometres away from La Casa to the west.

B.C. Hydro is asking residents on evacuation alert to be aware–if the fire gets close to equipment or people they will cut the power. If power is cut, fire crews have an electric generation system to pump water through their lines.

“It’s going to be hot, it’s going to be dry… it’s going to be a burning day,” Beaudry says, adding there will be northwest winds and humidity is at about two per cent.

Emergency Social Services director Beryl Itani said they’ve dealt with about 400 residents and that there are no available hotel rooms in town due to the long weekend.

Watch Kelowna.com for updates.

Update 10:57 a.m.

EOC press release/edited

A media briefing will be held at noon at the EOC located at the Kelowna Fire Department Station No. 1.

Emergency Operation Centre and emergency service personnel will provide an update on the state of the Terrace Mountain forest fire and Evacuation Orders and Alerts affecting north Westside Road area residents.

Watch Kelowna.com for updates.

Update 09/08/02 9:28 a.m.

EOC press release/edited

The Emergency Operations Centre thanks residents for their co-operation in making for yet another smooth, but large evacuation.

An estimated 2,500 residents from the Fintry/Muirallen Estates area along north Westside Road down the Trader’s Cove were forced from their homes by increased activity by the Terrace Mountain wildfire late yesterday. Emergency Social Services says 400 people were processed at the reception centre set up at Mount Boucherie Senior Secondary School, 2751 Cameron Rd. Approximately 120 of them were provided with group lodging at Trinity Baptist Church and at the UBC Okanagan campus. While some people slept in vehicles and campers at the school, evacuees are reminded that they must register in person for food and accommodation assistance. As hotel rooms become available for evacuees, ESS will make necessary arrangements for those residents in group lodging facilities.

Residents with pets or animals are able to receive in person assistance from representatives of the Canadian Disaster Animal Rescue Team (CDART) at the reception centre or by calling 250-809-7152. CDART is asking for donations of large dog leashes and small cat litter containers. Anyone able to help with these items is asked to visit the CDART representative at the reception centre.

There has been a region-wide response from Central Okanagan fire departments to assist North Westside Fire Rescue with structural fire protection in these evacuation areas. More than 60 fire fighters and a dozen pieces of equipment are being supplied by Lake Country, City of Kelowna, District of Peachland, District of West Kelowna, Joe Rich and Ellison paid-on call departments.

Even though BC Hydro advised last night that power lines serving the estimated 2,163 people in the Killiney, Westshore-Beau Park Evacuation Alert area might be de-energized, there were no disruptions in electrical service. Residents in these areas are reminded that they remain on Evacuation Alert and must be prepared to leave their homes on short notice.

At this time there are approximately 2,500 residents on Evacuation Order from the following areas:

· Caesar’s Landing

· Nahun

· Shelter Cove

· District lots off South Terrrace Main

· Wilson’s Landing

· Trader’s Cove

· Bear Creek Main to Kilometer 13 marker

· Bear Creek Provincial Park

· Fintry Provincial Park

· Upper Fintry

· Fintry Delta/Muirallen Estates

· Valley of the Sun

· La Casa resort

Overnight thermal imaging mapping for the Ministry of Forests indicates the Terrace Mountain wildfire has consumed 7,025 hectares of forest some of that includes fuel that has been burned off by the Ministry fire specialists as conditions allowed. Today the Ministry is allocating ground and air attack crews along the eastern flank of the fire.

Update 09/08/02 8:18 a.m.

The Terrace Mountain fire has grown by 2,500 hectares and is now 7,025 hectares in size–it is 30 per cent contained.

There are currently 237 fire fighters working on the fire and at 2 p.m. more fire fighters will be added. There are also 83 pieces of heavy equipment and 16 helicopters at work as well.

Fire information officer Suzanne Von der Porten says there are no predictions for growth today, but crews are hoping for lighter winds.

Update: Reports from evacuees indicate all hotel rooms are booked from Vancouver to Sicamous in the single busiest weekends of the year.

Update from B.C. Forest service: Crews worked in Shorts Creek yesterday to build a contingency guard above High Farm. Fire behaviour and safety concerns forced fire crews to pull out of that area of the fire. They started setting up Structural Protection Units early yesterday morning on structures in the High Creek area and aerial attack of the fire will continue today. Staff from the Office of the Fire Commissioner and the local fire department have been assisting forest fire suppression staff on this fire.

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