Photo: Apex Mountain Webcam
Apex Mountain deploys snowmaking equipment in defense of the Keremeos Creek wildfire
UPDATE: 7:56 p.m
A temporary camp for BC Wildfire Service firefighters battling the Keremeos Creek fire will be set up at the Adidas Sportsplex and Kings Park in Penticton.
According to a statement from the City of Penticton, the venue will be used by the BCWS team starting Sunday evening.
“BC Wildfire will be using the Adidas Sportsplex and Kings Park for approximately 100 crews and equipment over the next few days to help fight the Keremeos Creek Wildfire,” the city said in a statement.
On Sunday, BCWS said an incident management team had taken command of the wildfire response.
The team is supported by structural protection personnel and dozens of firefighting crews.
The 437-hectare wildfire is burning southeast of Apex Mountain.
UPDATE: 4:39 p.m
Apex Mountain Resort’s general manager says the resort is setting up snowmaking machines on the mountain to help fight the Keremeos Creek wildfire if needed.
James Schalman said snowmaking cannons are currently being placed in strategic areas.
“We actually have some of them right now, we’re collecting the others,” Schalman said.
He said snowmaking machines have always been part of the resort’s wildfire response plan.
“Snow-making guns pump a lot of water — about 150 feet in the air — and then the idea in the winter is that that water freezes and falls as snow. But in the summer, it’s one massive sprinkler system,” Schalman said.
He said the 437-hectare Keremeos Creek wildfire was not an immediate threat, but they were putting machines in place proactively as another layer of protection.
“It takes a long time to get the snow removal systems set up and we are working with B.C [Wildfire] The service as well, making sure we’re ready if it comes, that we can do everything we can to deal with it.”
The wildfire was discovered on Friday, July 29 and prompted an evacuation order for 25 properties around Ford Lake. Hundreds more – including the mountain village of Apex – are under evacuation alert.
“I’m always concerned about fire because you never know — it’s really up to Mother Nature how far the wind goes. I mean, I’m always concerned and I hope everything is going to be OK,” Schalman said.
In a Sunday afternoon update, the British Columbia Wildfire Service said an incident management team had taken control of the wildfire response.
The incident management team will take over response elements such as safety, finance, logistics, planning and operations.
“The IMT helps relieve pressure from the local fire center and zones, allowing them to focus on responding to new fires,” BCWS said.
BCWS said the wildfire burning southeast of Apex Mountain is largely located in terrain that cannot be used for air tankers and heavy machinery maintenance.
However, BCWS said the fire has moved west into an area accessible to heavy equipment.
BCWS said Sunday it had structure protection personnel, 29 firefighters, eight helicopters, eight contract crew members and several pieces of heavy equipment working to tackle the fire.
There was minimal fire growth Saturday night, with crews working through the night to conduct patrols and establish structural protection.
Photo: BCWS
UPDATE 10:10am
There was minimal growth of the Keremeos Creek wildfire overnight.
The fire remains at an estimated 437 hectares, but low visibility is hampering efforts to contain the wildfire southeast of Apex Mountain.
The British Columbia Wildfire Service says conditions are currently challenging air support resources. One helicopter is on site and three helicopters are available when visibility improves.
About 25 properties in the area around Ford Lake are under evacuation orders, while hundreds more – including the mountain village of Apex – are under evacuation warnings.
ORIGINAL 4:00 am
Firefighters battled the Keremeos Creek wildfire southeast of Apex Mountain overnight.
About 25 properties in the area around Ford Lake remain under evacuation orders, while hundreds more – including the mountain village of Apex – are under an evacuation alert.
The fire was mapped Saturday evening at 437 hectares and burning in terrain that cannot be used for heavy equipment or air tankers. Helicopters, ground crews and paratrooper firefighters battled the blaze on Saturday and will continue to do so on Sunday.
Firefighters from across the South Okanagan are assisting with structural protection duties. Emergency officials said Saturday that at least one small apartment building was lost in the fire.
“Apex Volunteer Fire Rescue is fully aware and we are working with the BC Wildfire Service and RDOS to coordinate and develop a plan to protect/defend the structure along with acquiring/positioning appropriate resources,” the Apex Mountain Volunteer Fire Department said Saturday night .
The British Columbia Wildfire Service says it is mobilizing all resources in the region to fight the fire. Crews have been training this past week amid the heat wave in anticipation of increased fire activity.
Fifty wildland firefighters and an incident command team have been assigned to the fire since Saturday night.
Castanet will be providing fire updates here throughout the day.
Photo: BC Wildfire Service
A view of the Keremeos Creek wildfire on July 29, 2022
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