Cool Creek evac alerts grow

Photo: BC Wildfire Service

The Cool Creek wildfire burning in the Similkameen.

Evacuation alerts have expanded in the Similkameen for areas near the volatile Cool Creek wildfire.

The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen has issued a new alert for 82 properties in rural Keremeos and an area west of the Lower Similkameen Indian Band.

A list of affected properties can be found here.

On Friday, the regional district issued alerts for parts of Area G and Area H — which included no fixed addresses but advised ranchers to move out cattle — and for all of Cathedral Provincial Park.

The Cool Creek wildfire, which was started by lightning on Wednesday, is now estimated at 6,300 hectares in size by the BC Wildfire Service.

Fire information officer Steve Kada said that estimates reflects the fire's size at the end of Friday.

"We haven't had an opportunity to send any aircraft up to do a more accurate track of the fire, just due to the obvious visibility conditions."

The fire is burning in a steep, remote area, and the terrain combined with heavy smoke is making it almost entirely inaccessible for fire crews. 

"We've got 20 firefighters in one area, but it's a large fire so that's pretty much like a drop in the ocean," Kada said. "We're pretty much doing what we can at the moment until we get aviation up to get a better assessment, and then go from there."

The fire is not currently identified as a wildfire "of note" by the wildfire service, but Kada noted it will be listed as a fire of note by the end of the weekend.

Photo: RDOS

An updated map of evacuation alert boundaries in the Similkameen, issued due to the Cool Creek wildfire.