More than 100 people who live east of Penticton, B.C., can now breathe a little easier after evacuation alerts have ended due to a nearby wildfire.
The Solomon Mountain wildfires is still burning four kilometers north of Beaverdell and is considered to be 17.5 hectares in size. As of Thursday morning, it is now classified as being held.
The Regional District of Kootenay Boundary issued an evacuation alert for 44 properties on Tuesday.
Mark Stephens of the Kootenay Boundary regional district told Global News that there was no significant growth overnight, unlike the Christie Mountain wildfire near Okanagan Falls.
However, the regional district was urging residents to be on alert, and to be ready to evacuate at a moment’s notice.
“This is the time that if they do have a farm or a hobby farm, that they implement their farm emergency plan and make arrangements for their animals,” said Stephens Wednesday.
Regarding the fire, BC Wildfire information officer Kim Wright said the first priority was to contain the south and east flanks, and crews were being supported by aerial resources and heavy machinery, plus the local fire department.
Also burning near Beaverdell are two other fires — the 60-hectare Carmi Creek fire, and the Tuzo Creek spot fire (under one hectare). Both are also listed as being out of control.
Several air tankers could be seen battling the Carmi Creek fire, as crews are trying to prevent it from spreading into open grasslands above the small community of Carmi.
“We understand that this is a very stressful time for residents in the area,” said Stephens.
“We just want people to know that we are monitoring the situation and we are working with BC Wildfire to assist ground operations.”
Meanwhile, the Mount Christie wildfire in the South Okanagan is threatening thousands of properties in the area.
The fire is on the east side of Skaha Lake, between Penticton and Okanagan Falls.
It remains an estimated 1,400 ha in size and is located around 6 km north of Okanagan Falls.