SOUTH OKANAGAN – Temperatures throughout the valley are expected to be above 30 degrees this week and that’s bad news for firefighters.
Fire officials say the wildfire season really heats up in July.
On Monday, two brush fires broke out in the south Okanagan.
The first one in Naramata was contained to .2 hectares thanks to the quick action of nearby workers.
“When we got there, the flames were quite big. Once we got the water on it, and we got the guys shoveling up on top to contain the fire, it was pretty good,” says Anthony Leardo, a construction worker.
Five construction workers and five vineyard workers attacked the blaze for 30 minutes before the professionals arrived.
The second blaze broke out a couple hours later near the observatory on White Lake Road.
“We’re into the heat of the summer and these fires are only going to be more challenging to catch,” says Jonathan Finlay, a forestry firefighter crew leader. “So we’re asking the public to be cautious with their time in the forest.”
Finlay says 70% of the Okanagan’s wildfires this year have been caused by people.
Officials suspect the two this week are no different, although the causes have not been determined.
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