Recreation site ordered evacuated near Thomas Creek wildfire

Photo: BCWS

A danger tree faller working on the Thomas Creek wildfire

UPDATE 6 p.m.

The Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen has issued evacuation orders for the Allendale Lake area due to the Thomas Creek wildfire outside Okanagan Falls.

The order impacts eight Crown lots and a recreation site in a wilderness area off Shuttleworth Creek Road. A full list of the evacuated lots and a map is here.

The regional district has also issued a local state of emergency in Electoral Area D due to the fire.

“Crews and equipment will continue to work to the north and east of the fire to create and reinforce guard lines using existing roads, old fire guards and other natural features. This is being done in an effort to get ahead of the fire in the north and northeast sections,” BCWS said in a statement Monday.

The fire is burning away from Okanagan Falls and towards Christie Mountain, the site of a massive wildfire in 2020, which has reduced the fuel available to the blaze.

ORIGINAL 7:10 a.m.

Fire behaviour increased significantly Sunday at the Thomas Creek wildfire south of Penticton, particularly in the north and northeast, causing significant growth.

In a Sunday night update, the BC Wildfire Service says increased fire activity is expected to continue as hot, dry and windy conditions persist.

Crews and equipment will continue to work in the Christie Mountain area to create and reinforce guard lines using existing roads, old fire guards and other natural features. This is being done in an effort to get ahead of the fire in the north and northeast sections.

Crews patrolled the guard line on the west flank Sunday and began to demobilize equipment from reinforced guard lines in the area as fire activity was relatively quiet.

Heavy equipment is being used to build contingency guard lines to the east of the fire.

Crews have secured the 201 Road up to the 13-kilometre mark by assessing and removing danger trees that were in striking distance of the road to ensure safe access for crews and equipment. The northeast portion of the road was unsafe Sunday due to heightened fire activity.

Wildfire service and Canadian Armed Forces crews will do a recce of the fire this morning to determine suitable objectives. Ninety military personnel will be working on the fire by Tuesday morning.

The fire is estimated to have burned 7,279 hectares and remains out of control.