BC Wildfire Service expect to see an increase in fire behaviour for Nk'Mip Creek on Wednesday

Photo: Oliver Fire Department

The Oliver Fire Department shared this photo of the Nk'Mip Creek Wildfire on Monday, July 26

The Nk’Mip Creek Wildfire burning near Oliver and Osoyoos has continued to grow, but BC Wildfire Service Crews are having a tough time mapping how much it has spread.

“We were meant to get an infrared scan of the fire last night to get an updated accurate measurement of the perimeter but unfortunately, that was not able to be completed. So we're hoping to do that today,” Dani McIntosh, fire information officer with BCWS said.

The most recent accurate measurement still sits at 6,800 hectares.

“Yesterday the fire was not very active. We saw an inversion kind of settle in for most of the day which kept the fire activity down. We'll likely see that change today with the clearing skies and see an increase in fire behaviour through the day as temperatures increase."

Crews have been able to make "good progress" working on the eastern cat guard with heavy equipment. The equipment remained on site overnight to protect structures near the Shrike subdivision.

“There is currently a danger tree assessor on site near Shrike Hill. So crews are continuing to patrol and mop up around that area and the northern Inkameep Road, with burning off any unburned fuel, reinforcing existing guards and working on hotspots,” McIntosh said, adding that structure protection continues in the Anarchist Mountain Community.

Ninety-eight Mexican fire personnel are working in the operational area on Wednesday and are on the fireline, alongside 46 structural protection personnel, 134 wildfire personnel, 24 heavy equipment operators, and five aircraft.

“It's really important to remember over the next couple of days as the Mexican fire personnel gets up to speed on the incident, the public will start to see more personnel on the grounds and it's more important than ever, that those personnel are given the space that they need to work safely and efficiently,” she added.

“We're really thankful to the supporting agencies from across BC, Canada and worldwide and thankful for the many British columbians and local visitors for taking the time to wish us well and send their gratitude and it really it doesn't go unnoticed and it's very meaningful to a lot of the people working on this incident.”

BCWS added a reminder for residents and visitors to obey the evacuation alerts and orders.

“It's really important for their own safety, but also to give our crews the space they need to work.”

Both the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen and the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary have issued Evacuation Alerts and Orders for the area. The RDOS can be found online here and the RDKB online here.