Keremeos Creek wildfire grows amid efforts to contain blaze near Penticton

Crews say natural fire growth and planned ignitions have led to a larger Keremeos Creek wildfire, as they try to bring flames down to control lines.

According to the BC Wildfire Service, the fire is now an estimated 4,250 hectares. But the growth seen between Wednesday and Thursday isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

“It worked the way we wanted it to work, the winds were really favourable — that’s why we went ahead with it. We were able to just really bring down the fuels that are in that area,” explained fire information officer Bryan Zandberg, who notes about 200 hectares were burned off Wednesday to protect homes and Highway 3A.

The Keremeos Creek Wildfire (K50863) is now estimated to be 4,250 hectares.
The change in size is due to both natural fire and planned ignitions completed by crews.
Planned ignitions are conducted to bring the fire down to control lines so firefighters can action the fire. pic.twitter.com/oKr932wc8x

— BC Wildfire Service (@BCGovFireInfo) August 4, 2022

He tells CityNews crews saw unfavourable conditions overnight near Olalla — along the south-western part of the fire — with flames spreading up the mountain west.

“Really significant fire behaviour around 10 p.m., rank four behaviour, just a wall of fire going up that mountain from what I understand. And then we had some 30 kilometre an hour winds pushing toward the south, and there are houses down there,” Zandberg continued.

The BC Wildfire Service was forced to reorient crews — with teams working around the clock — to get a handle on things.

“It was very face paced but we were very responsive and so were all of our partners working on it. The residents too. Everybody pulled together to protect those homes,” Zandberg told CityNews.

While he notes the growth and activity observed Wednesday night wasn’t exactly what crews wanted to see, conditions were cooler and wetter Thursday, with lower temperatures and higher humidity in the air.

On Thursday, firefighters are continuing to reinforce containment lines along some sections of the fire, as conditions allow.

“This will involve burning using drip torches to deal with any remaining unburnt fuels,” the BCWS’ update reads, in part.

Burns will continue from Highway 3A, which was shut down for several hours this week to give crews space to work, to the north end of Yellow Lake Thursday.

A BC Wildfire Service vehicle is parked along Highway 3A south of Penticton, near Kaleden, to monitor the Keremeos Creek Wildfire. (Courtesy BC Wildfire Service)

Evacuations orders remain in place as the fire continues burn in the southern Okanagan region.

“We hear you and we definitely empathize with what you’re going through,” Zandberg said in a message directed at evacuees.

He adds crews are “making every effort” to protect homes and properties, and are “pulling out all of the stops to do it.”

Highlighting the number of fire department teams from across the province who’ve come to assist, Zandberg notes neighbourhoods are being patrolled 24/7 to protect homes.

“We understand, too, the hardship people face when they’re not in their homes and all that uncertainty that comes with it in the middle of summertime — very cognizant of it. We are working to get people back in their neighbourhoods whenever we can,” he said.

In addition to working alongside crews from across B.C., Zandberg tells CityNews even locals are helping.

“Some of your neighbours are here helping us put a stop to this thing as well. Hopefully that’s some comfort for people, but we understand.”

While slightly cooler conditions have rolled into the area, Thursday’s forecast brings the potential for lightning, which could spell trouble for the dry terrain around the southern Interior. Conditions are expected to get hotter and drier once again over the weekend.

The situation remains volatile, though Zandberg says what’s happening across the fire is “a mixed bag.”

“We’re really happy with how things are looking along Sheep Creek and 3A, and that’s a long line there. So we’re quite happy with how things have turned out there. In Olalla, north of Olalla, that’s concerning, of course, so we’re going to have to respond. It’s very dynamic, we’re not out of the woods yet with this, we’re still seeing fire advancing in places where we just don’t want it. We want it contained. We’re still very much in the midst of our response in terms of what we’re doing on this fire.”

The Keremeos Creek fire is just one of several fires of note in the Kamloops Fire Centre. The Maria Creek, northeast of Pavilion, is about 1,000 hectares, while the Watching Creek blaze is 195 hectares.

Related articles: 

• Smoke from Interior wildfires trigger Air Quality Statement for the Okanagan

• Campfire ban for Kamloops Fire Centre

• More evacuation orders issued as Keremeos Creek wildfire burns

The Nohomin Creek wildfire, located 1.7 kilometres northwest of Lytton on the west side of the Fraser River, is 3,700 hectares. It continues to burn in steep terrain, “exhibiting growth and active fire behaviour in the Stein Valley Nlaka’pamux Heritage Park.” The BC Wildfire Service says it is moving west away from communities, with cooler, wetter weather expected to “reduce fire behaviour over the next few days.”

However, with temperatures expected to rise once again over the weekend, crews anticipate fire activity will return to what they saw late last month.

Community comes together

Meanwhile, though the situation around the southern Okanagan remains stressful for many who are affected or at risk of being affected by flames from the Keremeos Creek fire, Zandberg says crews are thankful for the locals they’re helping protect.

He says there’s a sense of community, especially when it comes to the smaller towns.

“It’s been really great, we’ve been well received here by folks. We had somebody named Jordan who came by yesterday — I believe she might be from Olalla — with a lot of Tim Hortons, donuts and muffins and coffee for all the firefighters, just so grateful for the work that people are doing,” Zandberg said.

He adds some people have even offered up their property for wildfire crews to stay on while they work.

“We’re getting a lot of thumbs-up on the road. It’s really nice to be welcomed that way and I know that all of the people who are working this fire care. They’re highly motivated to protect these properties and get people back home as soon as they can … We’re going to keep doing our absolute best for everybody.”