Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to provide additional context about whether structures have been impacted by the blaze.
Provincial officials have put an area restriction in place for the Finlay Creek wildfire area to make sure firefighting crews are able to work unimpeded.
“We need people to stay away from the fire and we still do have issues with people trying to access the area. With an area restriction order we at least then have the authority to legally ask them to leave the area,” explained Fire Information Officer Heather Rice.
“It is for the safety of people coming into the fire who shouldn’t be but it is also for the safety of our own firefighting crews when they are traveling up and down roadways and guards. The last thing they need to be doing is running into people who they aren’t expecting to be there.”
The 1,000 hectare blaze burning south west of Peachland is still considered uncontained although crews have put some guards in place.
“If we have any increased wind activity there is a chance the fire could increase in size. But currently it is quiet calm out there right now which is why, of course, we have the smoke settling into the valley so thick because there is no wind,” said Rice on Wednesday morning.
The area restrictions came into effect Wednesday morning and mean, with only a few exceptions, no one can enter crown land in the area without written permission.
The BC Wildfire Service said those exceptions are:
1. travelling to or from his or her principle residence that is not under an evacuation order;
2. travelling to or from leased property for the purpose of accessing a secondary residence or recreational property not under an evacuation order;
3. using a highway as defined in the Transportation Act;
4. travelling as a person acting in an official capacity;
5. travelling for the purpose of supporting wildfire suppression activities; or
6. engaging and/or participating in a commercial activity within the regular course of the person’s business or employment on private or leased lands.
Darke Lake Provincial Park is within the restricted area. The park was previously put on evacuation order.
The blaze, which was first noticed on Saturday, has triggered evacuation alerts and orders and the B.C. Wildfire Service said it has destroyed some structures.
Although officials have yet to confirm if the burnt structures are homes or outbuildings.
Meanwhile, the Regional District of Central Okanagan said it is their understanding that a structure was “impacted” near the beginning of the fire but they haven’t been able to confirm that with crews on the ground.
– with files from Klaudia Van Emmerik
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