More than 100 properties were told to evacuate on Saturday because of the Nk’Mip Creek wildfire that’s burning near Osoyoos.
Estimated at 6,800 hectares and deemed to be out of control by the BC Wildfire Service, the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary (RDKB) ordered an additional 126 properties to evacuate in and around the Baldy Mountain neighbourhood.
According to the regional district, the total number of properties now under its evacuation order is 248, and 318 properties remain on evacuation alert until further notice.
Previously, the area now under evacuation order had been under an evacuation alert that had been issued on Tuesday.
“The BC Wildfire Service confirmed with the RDKB overnight that residents would need to leave the area this morning,” the regional district said in a press release.
The RDKB says the evacuation order area includes Mt. Baldy Ski Resort extending east to include the west side of Fish Lake West Road, Belchrome Forest Service Road and Conkle Lake Provincial Park.
All evacuation orders and alerts, along with a complete list of addresses and maps of the applicable areas, are available at the regional district’s website.
The regional district says anyone ordered to evacuate should gather only essential belongings and exit along Highway 3 toward the Village of Midway, where an evacuation centre is set up at the Boundary Expo Recreation Centre (the arena) at 734 Seventh Avenue.
The Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen has also issued evacuation orders for properties in the Anarchist Mountain area south of Highway 3. Those orders are available on the regional district’s website.
Earlier Saturday, the Osoyoos Indian Band downgraded an evacuation order to an evacuation alert for a handful of addresses, while the RDOS expanded a previous evacuation order to include two addresses.
BC Wildfire says 146 personnel are on-site, along with five aircraft and 41 pieces of heavy equipment.
A spokesperson said crews are working on structure protection in the north, around Osoyoos Indian Band lands as well as the Shrike Hill area and the south as well, near Anarchist Mountain.
Asked how many structures are being threatened, the spokesperson said “there are a number of structures that have fire near them,” but an estimate or exact number wasn’t provided.
Still, the spokesperson said crews are engaged in protecting them, and that progress is being made around several flanks.
On Saturday afternoon, Regional District Okanagan-Similkameen information officer Erick Thompson said there are now 568 properties under RDOS evacuation orders, and 136 under evacuation alert.
Elsewhere, Thompson said there are:
Brenda Creek wildfire:
- 42 parcels under evacuation order
- 2 properties on evacuation alert.
Thomas Creek wildfire
- 705 properties on evacuation alert.
- The Okanagan Falls boat launch is closed until further notice.
In related news, a wildfire burning near Manning Provincial Park is now at 450 hectares, and an evacuation alert has been issued for properties in the area of Garrison Lake and Eastgate.
According to the RDOS, there are 141 properties under evacuation alert.
More information about wildfires in the RDOS area can be found on the regional district’s website.
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