141 new fires across B.C.

Photo: BCWS

Yesterday was a busy day for new fire starts across the province. According to the BC Wildfire Service, 141 new wildfires started Saturday — most were caused by lightning. 

"The southern third of the province saw the biggest uptick in new wildfire starts, with 33 new fires in the Coastal Fire Centre, 41 new fires in the Kamloops Fire Centre, and 60 new fires in the Southeast Fire Centre," the service stated on social media. 

Crews are currently battling 586 active wildfires across the B.C. 

Of the 41 new fires in the Kamloops Fire Centre, five are now "under control," one is "being held," five have been put out, and 30 remain "out of control."

There are nine "fires of note" in the Kamloops fire centre, with the largest being the 13,359-hectare Snowy Mountain fire 14 km south of Keremeos.

"Yesterday afternoon a successful small-scale planned ignition was conducted to tie the fire perimeter into a natural control line along the upper slope of the northeast flank of the fire perimeter," stated the BCWS. 

"Crews continue to mop-up and patrol along Chopaka Road."

Twenty-four kilometres west of West Kelowna and about eight km north of Highway 97, the Gottfriedsen Mountain continues to spread, albeit at a much slower rate than on previous days.

"Yesterday, this fire's rate of spread was slower due to moderately better conditions," The BCWS stated in an update online. "Yesterday evening the wind shifted and the fire burned back on itself. Crews and heavy equipment have accomplished good progress on the west flank and they continue to build guard."

There is an evacuation alert in the Pennask Lake and Hatheume Lake area. For complete information, please refer to the Thompson-Nicola Regional District. https://tnrd.ca

In the North Okanagan, smoke from two "fires of note" in particular have been highly visible.

The Mabel Creek fire has been mapped at 1,861 hectares, and the Harris Creek fire has been mapped at 508 hectares. 

"Yesterday, there was very active fire behaviour on this wildfire (Mabel Creek) and it continued to grow to the west past Mabel Creek,"  stated BCWS. The Mabel Creek fire also joined with several other fires. 

Yesterday, the Harris Creek fire was active, and on the western flank and helicopters and air tankers supported the ground crews to minimize the spread towards McAuley Creek Road.