It’s not officially out, but one of the seven wildfires still burning in the Okanagan this week is no longer considered a serious threat.
On Friday, the B.C. Wildfire Service said the Law Creek fire, located near West Kelowna, has been pulled from its ‘wildfires of note’ category. On Thursday, the Law Creek fire was estimated to be at 15.5 hectares in size, though it was classified as being under control.
BCWS information officer Noelle Kekula said patrols are still being done on the Law Creek fire, as they search for and extinguish hot spots. A heat scan is also being scheduled for hidden hot spots.
“We will scan it, looking for hot spots, and a map is created,” Kekula explained. “Crews go and take those maps where hot spots have been found and extinguish them.”
Heat scans have also been ordered for the Mount Conkle and Peachland Creek fires, which means they also be rubbed off the ‘wildfires of note’ category.
The remaining fires in the Okanagan are the Mount Eneas fire near Peachland; the Goode’s Creek fire in Okanagan Mountain Provincial Park; the Glenfir Road fire above Naramata; and the Frederick Creek fire, burning in Okanagan Mountain Provincial Park, though it’s not considered a wildfire of note despite it being 55 hectares in size.
“Last week, we had 16 fires,” said Kekula, adding the fight isn’t over yet. “The Glenfir and Goode’s Creek are tough ones, with that terrain and the rock and the winds. The crews are challenged and those aren’t easy fires to fight.”
Overall, there are 320 firefighters in the Okanagan. Temperatures are expected to soar well above 30 C today and throughout the weekend, meaning firefighters will also be battling sweltering heat in addition to the fires.
Here’s a look at the remaining fires in the Okanagan, from north to south:
Peachland Creek
- Location: 2.5 kilometres west of Peachland.
- Size: 23 hectares
- Cause: Lightning.
- Status: Classified as being held; no further growth anticipated due to weather conditions and suppression tactics.
Goode’s Creek
- Location: 21 kilometres south of Kelowna, in Okanagan Mountain Provincial Park.
- Size: 577 hectares.
- Cause: Lightning.
- Status: Classified as out of control. Fifty-five personnel on site with air support available as necessary.
- BCWS notes: “Ground crews on this wildfire will patrol the area and extinguish any hot spots. Crews are also working on strengthening containment lines on the north flank and (are) continuing to extinguish hot spots and patrol in that area. Ground crews are performing a direct attack today on the large spot on the southern end of this wildfire.
Mount Eneas
- Location: Four kilometres south of Peachland, immediately west of Highway 97.
- Size: 1,793 hectares.
- Cause: Lightning.
- Status: Classified as being held. Eighty-seven personnel on site.
- BCWS notes: “Good progress is being made, as some sections have been blacklined into the perimeter.” Note: Blackline is a condition where no fuels remain between a fire line and the main fire.
Frederick Creek
- Location: Okanagan Mountain Provincial Park.
- Size: 55 hectares.
Glenfir Road
- Location: 10 kilometres northwest of Naramata.
- Size: 32 hectares.
- Cause: Lightning.
- Status: Classified as out of control. Forty-four personnel on site and air support as needed.
- BCWS notes: “Today’s objectives for ground crews include patrol and extinguishing hot spots. Crews will also continue to progress from the southeast corner to the north, extinguishing hot spots in this area as well along the way.”
Mount Conkle
- Location: Approximately six kilometres southwest of Summerland.
- Size: 118 hectares.
- Cause: Lightning.
- Status: Classified as being held.