The Keremeos Creek wildfire situated 21 kilometres southwest of Penticton, B.C., is currently an estimated 5,903 hectares, though that number is expected to increase by Monday night when new mapping is completed.
BC Wildfire said there were no structures damaged by flames overnight Sunday and conditions were working in their favour, particularly when it comes to areas closest to homes.
Bryan Zandberg from the BC Wildfire Service said Monday afternoon there is still some concern about some structures along Green Mountain Road to the north. He said crews are patrolling for 24 hours on this fire to make sure areas remain protected and the fire doesn’t flare up.
“(It’s been) three days now where we haven’t been massively challenged by wind,” Zandberg added.
Earlier, Mikhail Elsay, BC Wildfire Information Officer, said the hand ignitions aimed at getting containment on the southern and northeast corners of the fire, also known as the Olalla and Sheep Creek interface areas, were successful.
“So with that success crews will continue to mop up behind the interface where the fire is,” Elsay said. “We’re trying to make it safe so the public can return.”
He said as crews have solidified containment in those areas the task ahead is a couple of days of mopping up and removing remaining hazards.
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“That’s why we continue to recommend to the regional district that the alerts and orders stay in place at this time,” he said.
Crews continued patrols, monitoring and knocking down hot spots at the interface, at Highway 3A and along key sections of the guard.
“Two unit crews will use hand ignitions on approximately 30 hectares to secure a large stretch of ground north of the town of Olalla. Helicopters and an ignition specialist will also be on site.”
These hand ignitions are intended to bring the fire down to safe, workable ground for crews and are crucial for creating reliable containment. As that happens, however, increased fire activity and smoke may be visible from Olalla and Keremeos.
Hand ignitions will also be used on the northeastern corner of the fire from the end of Sheep Creek Road travelling north. These ignitions are expected to be low-intensity and will help secure the northeastern control lines. Helicopters will be standing by in both areas to support operations.
Zandberg said crews have not seen “massive fire growth” in the area of Apex Mountain at this time.
There are 245 wildland firefighters assigned to this fire working with an additional 160 structural protection personnel from fire departments across B.C. for a total crew complement of 405 firefighters.
Zandberg said the firefighters are performing many different fire suppression activities for this fire.
The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen Emergency Operations Centre (RDOS EOC) is in regular communication with BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) to assess the status of all evacuation alerts and orders within the RDOS. No changes to evacuation orders or alerts within the RDOS have been made so far on Monday. Ongoing evacuation alerts and orders remain in effect.
Zandberg said crews are still seeing falling and rolling debris in some areas of the fire, so while it appears evacuation orders and alerts could be lifted in a few regions, those areas are still not safe for people to return home.
“It takes some time to really mop things up properly so that they are safe,” he added.
The RDOS, in conjunction with the Village of Keremeos, has temporarily opened an Emergency Support Service (ESS) Reception Centre at the Keremeos Victory Hall at 427-7th Avenue and it opened at 9 a.m. on Monday.
The City of Penticton ESS Reception Centre at Princess Margaret Secondary School opened at 9 a.m. Monday.