Photo: Contributed
The southwest corner of the Keremeos Creek wildfire on Tuesday
UPDATE: 9:57am
BC Wildfire Service said the Keremeos Creek Fire has moved upslope closer to Highway 3A at the south end of Yellow Lake in their update Tuesday morning.
Mapping estimated the wildfire at 2,790 hectares as of Monday evening. Part of the fire was not visible earlier due to smoke.
Fire crews are working on building a control line along the highway.
“This will limit growth and allow crews to have safe access and establish containment lines,” BCWS said.
Air tankers were able to make two retarder passes on Monday night, but were unable to continue due to crosswinds. The BCWS crew and structural protection were deployed overnight.
Planned fires are expected on the eastern flank over the next 24 hours.
The cause of this wildfire is currently under investigation.
A total of eight helicopters, four units of heavy equipment and an additional 115 structural protection personnel from fire services across British Columbia for a total of 229 firefighters.
Additional crews are establishing control lines from Green Mountain Road working west and preparing Cedar Creek Road for potential burn operations. Full hazard tree and fall assessment on Green Mountain Road.
ORIGINAL: 6:38 am
Cooler temperatures are expected to aid firefighting this week in the Keremeos Creek Wildfire, which is burning near Apex Mountain.
“With the inversion and cooler temperatures over the next two to three days, crews will use these conditions to their advantage,” the BC Wildfire Service said in an update Monday night.
The fire is believed to have burned 2,790 hectares.
Crews and structural protection units remained on site overnight.
Structural Defense has deployed resources to homes and infrastructure as needed and sorting of additional sites will continue as needed.
“Crews are actively constructing emergency lines on the south side of the ravine on Sheep Creek Road. Crews are building hand lines south of Green Mountain Road to Highway 3. And crews are also working on Green Mountain Road,” BCWS said.
With temperatures forecast to continue to drop over the next few days, crews will use these conditions to their advantage.
Meanwhile, the fire is growing in steep, hard-to-reach terrain.
“Crews are building emergency lines while continuing to focus efforts on areas affecting residents; supporting structure protection.
“Most of the wildfire is located in terrain that cannot be used by air tankers and heavy machinery; however, the fire has moved into an area to the west that is accessible for heavy equipment work. Heavy equipment is being used to build a line at Sheep Creek, protecting the valuables.”
Hedley-Nickleplate Road and Green Mountain Road are closed in the fire area.
A total of 144 firefighters are involved in the blaze, supported by nine helicopters and four heavy equipment units.
Photo: BCWS
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