Okanagan wildfire update: Quilpituk Creek grows to 742 hectares as Bradley evacuation orders shift

BC Wildfire Service crews respond to wildfire activity in the Okanagan. Several fires remained out of control Tuesday as evacuation orders and alerts continued across the region.

Photo: BC Wildfire Service

More than 2,200 Central Okanagan properties remain under order, while Spallumcheen confirms two homes lost and the RDNO expands an order over evacuation-route concerns

The Quilpituk Creek wildfire had been remapped at approximately 742 hectares by Tuesday morning, a substantial increase from the 550-hectare estimate published by Central Okanagan Emergency Operations at noon Monday.

The BC Wildfire Service continued to classify the fire, numbered K51402, as out of control. The 742-hectare measurement was displayed on the service’s live incident dashboard, which is updated as new operational and mapping information becomes available.

No new Central Okanagan evacuation change had been announced by midday Tuesday. The latest emergency operations update, issued at 5:17 p.m. Monday, listed 2,223 properties under evacuation order and another 425 under evacuation alert. Officials said those orders and alerts would remain in place overnight.

BC Wildfire Service personnel were working alongside Central Okanagan fire departments, aircraft, heavy-equipment teams and structure-protection crews. Ground crews were establishing hose lines around the fire’s edge and assessing and falling dangerous trees.

Westside Road remained closed north of Caesars Landing in the latest Central Okanagan update. Officials continued to ask the public to stay clear of aircraft working over Okanagan Lake and to avoid interfering with emergency operations.

Emergency Support Services reopened Tuesday morning at the Westbank Lions Community Centre. Royal LePage Place was designated for group lodging, while Mount Boucherie Secondary School was available for overnight parking for recreational vehicles and trailers.

Evacuation picture changes around Bradley Creek

The Bradley Creek wildfire remained estimated at approximately 2,603 hectares and classified as out of control in the latest published official information.

The City of Vernon said Monday that BC Wildfire Service had reported no significant growth since Aug. 2. The Columbia Shuswap Regional District repeated Tuesday morning that there had been no significant growth Monday, although hot temperatures and stronger forecast winds remained a concern.

Vernon said the wildfire remained outside the city and posed no immediate threat to Vernon. Crews, aircraft, heavy equipment and structure-protection personnel continued working in affected areas.

In Spallumcheen, a major reduction in the evacuation-order area allowed many residents to begin returning home.

The township reported Tuesday morning that 13 properties remained under evacuation order and 721 were under evacuation alert. It also confirmed that two homes and two outbuildings had been lost. Officials said they were still working to determine the final number of damaged or destroyed structures.

Spallumcheen asked non-residents to stay out of the alert areas while residents returned and warned that some hazards could remain.

The situation moved in the opposite direction in part of Regional District of North Okanagan Electoral Area B.

At 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, the RDNO expanded an evacuation order to properties on Cain, Nashwito, Banks, Beau Park, Siwash Creek, Beatrice and Six Mile Creek roads. Properties on the west side of Irish Creek Road remained under order.

The regional district said the expansion was prompted by concerns about available evacuation routes as both the Bradley Creek and Quilpituk Creek fires affected the Westside Road corridor. It emphasized that there was no immediate wildfire threat to the newly ordered area.

The order allowed residents to receive Emergency Support Services and to be escorted safely through areas affected by the fires. The RDNO planned to escort residents north to Highway 97 in a convoy Tuesday afternoon.

Armstrong, meanwhile, rescinded the evacuation alert covering 14 properties on Fraser, Pleasant Valley, Noble, Otter Lake and Wood roads and Patten Drive. The city said the decision followed consultation with BC Wildfire Service and emergency-management partners.

Armstrong’s emergency operations centre remained activated to monitor conditions and communicate with neighbouring governments and response agencies.

Evacuation measures remained in place elsewhere around the Bradley Creek fire. The Columbia Shuswap Regional District said Tuesday morning that it was making no changes to its alerts in Electoral Area D because the fire remained active and still had the potential to push north.

The latest Okanagan Indian Band update said all evacuation orders on IR 1 remained in effect. Westside Road remained closed through the affected area because of fire activity, damaged power poles, hazardous trees and ongoing emergency operations. A do-not-consume-water advisory also remained in effect for the Six Mile, Bradley Creek, Irish Creek and Head of the Lake community water system and the system serving 59 Antoine Road.

Vernon’s Emergency Support Services reception centre at Kal Tire Place remained open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for displaced residents.

Evacuation zones reduced south of Osoyoos

South of the international border, several evacuation zones north of Ellisforde were reduced Monday evening as crews continued responding to the Sinlahekin fire in Okanogan County.

The county’s latest official update, issued at 7:21 p.m. Monday, said crews had kept the fire south of Loomis–Oroville Road and east of Spectacle Lake at its northern end. At the southern end, it was being held north of South Pine Creek Road and Fish Lake Road.

Officials cautioned that the fire remained active throughout the area and directed residents to consult the county’s current evacuation map before travelling or returning to affected properties.

State Route 97 was open, although several county roads within the fire area remained closed and staffed by law enforcement. The Okanogan County Public Utility District continued working to restore power to customers without service.

Shelters remained open at the Community Cultural Center in Tonasket and the Omak Community Center. No newer Okanogan County emergency update had been posted by midday Tuesday.