Vancouver Island fire crews continue to battle lightning-sparked blazes

Crews on Vancouver Island continue to battle wildfires that have been burning since a lightning storm rolled through on Wednesday.

Ten fires sprang up due to lightning strikes, but crews have since put out two of the blazes.

Gordon Robinson, fire information officer with the BC Wildfire Service, says that alongside the two fires that have been extinguished, two more are now under control.

“Our initial attack crews are continuing to sort of knock those targets off one at a time. They’re all burning in quite steep, heavily wooded terrain. So it makes access a little challenging and working in some of that steep, mountainous terrain can be can be a bit slow,” said Robinson.

“Attack crews are taking down targets one at a time.”

(Photo credit: BC Wildfire Service)

Robinson says dry conditions continue to create ripe conditions for fires to spring up.

“That’s when you really see a lot of fires started like this. The storm that came through here, in absolute terms wasn’t all that big but because it was dry, it started a lot of fires,” he explained.

He says that while the fires have been in areas away from busy communities, people should still stay prepared.

“We encourage people who live further out in more wooded and remote or rural areas to look into FireSmart BC. Look at steps they can do to help protect their property as well. It’s different on the island versus the Interior in  terms of how quickly fire can generally spread.”

RELATED LINKS:

• Wildfires burning across Vancouver Island after lightning storm

• Severe thunderstorm watch issued for interior, northern B.C.

Keremeos Creek wildfire

On Thursday, residents of Olalla got good news about being able to return home.

The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS) downgraded the evacuation order issued to the community of Olalla to an evacuation alert.

As well, the alert has been lifted for the “Village of Keremeos and rural Keremeos.”

Evacuation Order for Olalla, BC removed as of 10 am Aug 11, 2022. Area remains under Evacuation Alert. Alert has been lifted for Village of Keremeos and rural Keremeos. https://t.co/JzCRWBzb1g pic.twitter.com/FO88sNikNe

— RDOS EOC (@EmergMgtRDOS) August 11, 2022

The BC Wildfire Service tweeted out Friday that the fire was no longer a threat to Highway 3A, and was now reopened between Upper Bench Road and the Highway 97 junction.

On Wednesday, the RDOS rescinded the evacuation order for selected properties along Highway 3A.

Apex Mountain Resort and a portion of Green Mountain Road remain on evacuation order.

Richter Mountain wildfire

The BC Wildfire Service says they are responding to the Richter Mountain fire alongside the Keremeos Fire Department.

They say the fire is 17 kilometers west of Osoyoos, along Highway 3 and is 40 hectares in size.

(Photo credit: BC Wildfire Services)

“It is classified as ‘Out of Control.’ There are 33 personnel responding, one water tender and aerial resources,” said a BC Wildfire Service statement.

They add that the cause of the Richter Mountain wildifire is suspected to be human-caused.

According to the BC Wildfire Service, 48 new fires have started over the province in the last two days, including one suspected lightning-caused blaze near Monte Lake, the same area where a massive wildfire destroyed homes last year.

All the latest updates can be found on the BC Wildfire Services dashboard.