Photo: Nicole Hemeon

UPDATED to 8 p.m.

The seven Okanagan-Similkameen "fires of note" below are considered a threat to public safety, or are visible to the public. Updates on these fires will be provided multiple times throughout the day on Castanet. This list will be updated as the day progresses.

MOUNT ENEAS: The fire is located four kilometres south of Peachland, burning in steep terrain. The 1,000 hectare blaze has closed Highway 97 once again. The fire has also forced multiple evacuation orders and alerts in the Peachland and Garnet Valley areas, and the BC Wildfire Service says the fire is threatening structures. Structural protection units have been deployed to the area. Fifty-seven firefighters, along with airtankers and one piece of heavy equipment were on site today. They are planning on focusing their efforts on increasing containment on the southern end of the fire, near Garnet Valley. 

GOOD CREEK: Located on the east side of Okanagan Lake in Okanagan Mountain Park, this fire was started by lightning was last estimated at 400 hectares. Fire suppression efforts are being focused near Lakeshore Road, where evacuation alerts have been issued.

MOUNT CONKLE: Plumes from this fire west of Trout Creek on Penticton Indian Band land near Shingle Creek Road are visible around the south end of the valley. This lightning-cause fire has grown to 90 hectares in size. Crews have made good progress toward containing this fire. The Penticton Indian Band has issued some evacuation alerts. Twenty firefighters, along with six pieces of heavy equipment and seven helicopters are providing support. 

CARROT MOUNTAIN: This is a cluster of four small fires, west of West Kelowna. All four fires are either out or under control. These fires are located in steep terrain. Rappel crews have responded and good progress has been made on each of them.

PLACER MOUNTAIN: This fire is burning 37 kilometres south of Princeton, and is putting up a large plume of smoke visible from across the Similkameen. The fire was estimated at 150 hectares on Thursday evening. Twenty-one firefighters and two helicopters, along with three pieces of heavy equipment, are fighting the fire.

LAW CREEK: This lightning-caused fire has quickly grown Thursday from an estimated 0.1 hectares to eight hectares. It's burning about six kilometres southwest of West Kelowna. Twenty-three firefighters are fighting the fire with the help of helicopters and airtanker support.

UPPER BROOKSIDE CREEK: This fire is burning near Hartnell Road outside of Vernon. The size was estimated at 1 hectare Thursday evening and 11 firefighters are working on the fire. 

The B.C. Wildfire Service has removed the Glenfir Road and Munro Lake FSR wildfires from their “fires of note” list, meaning they no longer are visible or pose a threat to public safety.

Photo: BC Wildfire Service

UPDATE 12:20 p.m.

The B.C. Wildfire Service says nine “fires of note” are burning in the Okanagan-Similkameen, defined as “"highly visible or which pose a potential threat to public safety."

All nine fires of note in the Kamloops Fire Centre are burning in our area.

This list will be updated throughout the day as size estimates change.

GOOD CREEK: Located 5 kilometres east of Peachland on the east side of Okanagan Lake in Okanagan Mountain Park, this fire was started by lightning was last estimated at 340 hectares. Helicopters will be bucketing this interface fire today and more resources are on the way. Fire suppression efforts are being focused near Lakeshore Road, where evacuation alerts have been issued.

MOUNT ENEAS: The fire is located four kilometres south of Peachland, burning in steep terrain. The 500 hectare blaze has brought Highway 97 down to single lane alternating traffic. The fire has also forced multiple evacuation orders and alerts in the Peachland and Garnet Valley areas. Airtankers, 22 personnel and helicopters will be onsite this morning. Structural protection units have been deployed to the area.​

MOUNT CONKLE: Plumes from this fire west of Trout Creek on Penticton Indian Band land near Shingle Creek Road are visible around the south end of the valley. This lightning-cause fire has grown to 80 hectares in size, mainly due to fire suppression efforts. Today, 22 personnel will be onsite at this fire and they are being supported by heavy equipment. Air support will be provided if needed. Crews have made good progress toward containing this fire. The Penticton Indian Band has issued some evacuation alerts.

CARROT MOUNTAIN: This is a cluster of four small fires, west of West Kelowna. All four fires are either out or under control. These fires are located in steep terrain. Rappel crews have responded and good progress has been made on each of them.

GLENFIR ROAD: This 1.5 hectare fire is burning about 10 kilometres northwest of Naramata. Ground crews and air tankers responded to the fire Wednesday. The Naramata Fire department is assisting the BC Wildfire Service on the blaze.

PLACER MOUNTAIN: This fire is burning 37 kilometres south of Princeton, and is putting up a large plume of smoke visible from across the Similkameen. The fire was last estimated at 50 hectares on Wednesday evening. 33 firefighters and two helicopters are fighting the fire.

LAW CREEK: This lightning-cause 0.1 hectare fire is burning about six kilometres southwest of West Kelowna. Helicopters and ground crews are on site and the fire is not threatening structures.

MUNRO LAKE FSR: This fire is burning two kilometres southwest of Peachland. It was last estimated in size Wednesday evening at two hectares. A rappel crew is assigned to this wildfire, assisted by aviation resources.

UPPER BROOKSIDE CREEK: This fire is burning near Hartnell Road outside of Vernon. The size was estimated at 1.2 hectares Wednesday night. The BC Wildfire Service had three rapattack personnel responding Thursday.

ORIGINAL 8:10 a.m.

According to BC Wildifre Services interactive map there are eight fires of note burning in the Okanagan and there are 4 new fires less than 24 hours old and 2 active fires that are not considered of note.

The last post on the BC Wildfires social media site says: "Mt. Eneas Wildfire Evacuation Order - News Release No.1: Central Okanagan, B.C. —The Central Okanagan Emergency Operations Centre has been activated to support BC Wildfire Service crews fighting the Mt. Eneas fire south of Peachland.

An evacuation order has been issued for properties in the Brent Road area, north of the fire. Residents on evacuation order should leave their properties immediately."