More evacuation orders issued as Keremeos Creek wildfire burns

Editor’s note: A previous version of this article included incorrect numbers of properties covered by evacuation orders and alerts. This error has been corrected.

The Keremeos Creek wildfire burning southwest of Penticton has forced more people from their homes, with additional evacuation orders issued Tuesday.

However, crews have been able to keep the blaze from growing over the last couple of days.

“Crews were pretty busy in there yesterday and the fire actually remained relatively calm. We certainly didn’t have any kind of explosive fire behaviour or anything of the sort — it was much more, sort of, creeping fire behaviour, debris rolling downhill overnight, so pretty similar to what we’ve seen … the last three days have been calmer, and that’s really good. It gives us a chance to really attack this fire really aggressively,” fire information officer Bryan Zandberg told CityNews Wednesday.

He notes crews are also working through the night to deal with any flare ups or emerging situations, where terrain allows.

The Regional District of the Okanagan-Similkameen says almost 324 properties are now covered by evacuation orders, while another 479 properties are under alert.

EOC Update: Keremeos Creek wildfire (K50863) August, 2, 2022, 4:00 pm https://t.co/oavRk8EoXI

— RDOS EOC (@EmergMgtRDOS) August 2, 2022

Dozens of ground crews are on the scene but the crosswinds have created challenges for airtankers in recent days. The Keremeos Creek blaze remains an estimated 2,790 hectares, as has been the case since around 5 p.m. Aug. 1.

Zandberg says the Ministry of Transportation closed a section of Highway 3A, between Keremeos and Kaleden, Tuesday, to help crews in their efforts and also due to the proximity of flames and the fire’s activity. The road has since reopened.

There is some cooler, wetter weather in the forecast for the coming couple of days. However, there also remain some major concerns on the weather front, with storms expected.

“We don’t need more lightning touching off more wildfires but there are still some showers as we head into Thursday night. So, some good news is that we have some rain, but also the potential as we get into the weekend for an increase in fire weather because it’s going to get hot and dry once again,” explained CityNews Meteorologist Carl Lam.

For those heading into the southern Okanagan region, Lam says you can expect some smoke to linger.

“Those conditions will vary from hour to hour and just depends on the wind direction as well. But even out towards Cranbrook there have been concerns about moderate risks to air quality for those especially with respiratory sensitivities. We’re going to watch that throughout the day as well.”

Related articles: 

• ‘Risk is always there’: Apex Mountain evacuated as aggressive wildfire near Penticton grows

• Baldy Resort locals extend support to Apex wildfire evacuees as Keremeos Creek blaze grows

• Cooler weather could offer respite to crews battling Keremeos wildfire

Meanwhile, crews from various parts of the province have been called in to assist with firefighting efforts over the last several days.

“We’re still seeing an increase in personnel here to fight the fire. We have 115 structural protection folks — these are local firefighters and we actually have fire departments from a large part of southern B.C. right now, like in the dozens, which is excellent to protect those homes and the mountain resort as well,” Zandberg explained, adding there are also 137 wildland firefighters assigned.

“They’re obviously in the forested areas, removing those forest fuels throughout there.”

These people are in addition to the various pieces of heavy equipment and air support working on this fire.

Zandberg notes crews continue to deal with difficult conditions, including “well-cured fuels” and steep terrain.

The BC Wildfire Service says its crews are working on containment lines, with planned ignitions in some areas expected over the course of the coming day.

“[We want] to build a guard around this thing and stop its advancement,” said Zandberg.

-With files from Kareem Gouda