Bald Range evacuations hold steady as West Kootenay fires remain active
Several recent wildfire starts remained active across the West Kootenays Saturday, Aug. 15, while the Bald Range wildfire west of Summerland remained out of control.
Screenshot: BC Wildfire Service
OKANAGAN — No new evacuation orders or alerts were issued Saturday for the nearly 20,000-hectare Bald Range wildfire, while several recent wildfire starts remain active across the West Kootenays.
No new evacuation orders or alerts have been issued Saturday for the Bald Range wildfire, a day after hundreds of residents were allowed to return home in Trout Creek and evacuation orders were downgraded in Peachland.
The Bald Range wildfire, west of Summerland, remains out of control at an estimated 19,891 hectares, according to the BC Wildfire Service.
The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen said in a noon update Saturday that there had been no new evacuation orders or alerts related to the fire so far that day. Areas that remain under evacuation order are still considered unsafe, and emergency officials are working on plans for phased re-entry. No timeline has been set for when additional residents could return home.
The stable evacuation picture follows significant changes Friday.
Approximately 400 residences in Trout Creek east of Highway 97 were allowed to return when an evacuation order was downgraded to an alert at noon Friday. Residents remain prepared to leave again if conditions deteriorate, and a boil-water notice remains in effect.
Later Friday, evacuation orders remained or were issued for other areas affected by the fire, including locations along Princeton-Summerland Road and near Thirsk Lake.
Farther north, evacuation orders for all Bald Range-affected properties in Peachland and Electoral Area West were downgraded to evacuation alerts at 6 p.m. Friday. Alerts were lifted entirely for downtown Peachland and several other locations, including Brenda Mines Road, McDonald Lake and Silver Lake Forest Service Road.
Highway 97 remains open on a limited basis through the Summerland area.
Residents returning to Trout Creek east of Highway 97 have 24-hour access in both directions through Arkell Road. Northbound highway traffic past Trout Creek is permitted between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. daily, but the highway is a through route only, with no stopping or exiting. Reduced speeds remain in effect because crews are working on and near the roadway.
RDOS warned that conditions could change with little or no warning.
BC Wildfire Service is also expecting winds to increase Saturday, with the possibility of thunderstorms producing unstable winds and potentially increasing fire behaviour.
Recent West Kootenay starts remain active
The situation is also changing farther east, where several wildfires discovered in the West Kootenays this week remain active.
The John Bull Mountain wildfire, N71570, which was discovered Aug. 12 south of Nelson, remains out of control and was most recently estimated at approximately 30 hectares. The fire is north of Highway 3 near Stagleap Provincial Park.
The Halfway River wildfire, N51593, discovered Aug. 13 in the Southeast Fire Centre, was listed at approximately two hectares and out of control in the latest available incident data.
The status of another recent start, Fisher Creek wildfire N51601, has changed. The current BC Wildfire Service fire list identifies the fire as out of control. It was discovered Aug. 13 in the Southeast Fire Centre.
Several recent West Kootenay starts appeared in BC Wildfire Service incident data following storm activity in the region this week. Their changing status illustrates how wildfire developments can emerge through the BCWS incident map before a separate news release or evacuation notice is issued.
BC Wildfire Service defines an out-of-control wildfire as one that is spreading or is expected to spread beyond its current perimeter or control line.
The Sentinel will continue monitoring the BC Wildfire Service incident map for new starts and significant changes in existing fires, in addition to regional-district evacuation notices, municipal alerts and other emergency updates.
No new evacuation orders or alerts were issued Saturday for the nearly 20,000-hectare Bald Range wildfire, while several recent wildfire starts remain active across the West Kootenays.