Lightning sparks at least one of two new wildfires on either side of Okanagan Connector

Photo: Nicholas Johansen

Smoke from the Trepanier Creek fire was visible from Highway 97C

UPDATE 8:58 a.m.

The BC Wildfire Service tells Castanet they managed to get the Silver Creek spot fire under control Wednesday night and crews worked on the Trepanier Creek wildfire overnight.

BCWS spokesperson Melanie Bibeau tells Castanet, "same resources that we had yesterday, there was a rap-attack crew that overnighted on that fire last night."

Bibeau says the Trepanier Creek fire remains small, spot sized as of Thursday morning.

ORIGINAL 6:24 p.m.

The BC Wildfire Service is reporting two new wildfires in the vicinity of the Okanagan Connector.

The Trepanier Creek fire is visible from Highway 97C and is located just north of the highway. It is not far from the Jack Creek fire that was started by lightning on September 7.

While the cause of the Trepanier Creek fire is still listed as unknown, BCWS confirms that lightning is believed to have sparked the second new fire Wednesday afternoon.

The Silver Creek fire is located south of Highway 97C and is already under control.

BCWS says a rap-attack crew has been dispatched to the Trepanier Creek fire and will be overnighting at the scene. Both fires are less than one hectare in size.

Thunderstorms rolled through the vicinity of the Okanagan Connector Wednesday, bringing torrential rain and hail that caused a series of crashes on the route.