Photo: Kate Harper~McGregor
A helicopter collects water from Ford Lake as it attacks the Keremeos Creek bushfire near Apex Mountain
UPDATE: 22.30
An evacuation order has been issued by the Okanagan-Similkameen Regional District for several properties near Green Mountain Road near Ford Lake due to the Keremeos Creek bushfire.
A full list and map of the properties affected by the evacuation warning and order are available on the RDOS website.
The evacuation order is in effect for the following areas: Green Mountain Road between Highway 3A on the south and Apex Mountain Road on the south and in the general area of Ford Lake.
For properties placed under an evacuation order, the RDOS said search and rescue teams and the RCMP will notify residents. Call for ESS support by phone 250-486-1890
Due to a shortage of commercial/hotel accommodation over the long weekend, the EOC said residents should consider making arrangements to stay with family or friends if possible and bring pets if possible.
If you need transportation assistance, call the RDOS EOC at 250-490-4225
Visit the RDOS EOC website for resource links and information updates here.
A map of the affected properties can be found below.
Photo: RDOS
UPDATE: 9:50 PM
The Okanagan-Similkameen Regional District Emergency Operations Center has been activated over the Keremeos Creek wildfire.
The EOC says they are monitoring the conditions and encourages residents to follow the local media, the BC Wildfire Service and their EOC page for updates.
BCWS has now turned the Keremeos Creek wildfire into a wildfire. Information can be found online here.
The fire shows “aggressive fire behaviour”, according to BCWS.
The wildfire is still estimated at 100 hectares and the cause of the fire is currently unknown and under investigation.
UPDATE: 8:40 PM
Firefighters continue to fight the Keremeos Creek wildfire, still spotted on 100 acres after Friday afternoon sparks outside Penticton near Apex Mountain.
BC Wildfire Service has 10 personnel and two helicopters are on site, with additional personnel and a structure protection unit en route to the backcountry site.
Graeme Lindsay, the deputy fire chief of Apex Volunteer Fire Rescue, took to a local Facebook page to let the community know that the area was not currently in danger.
“The smoke we are seeing from Apex is a new bushfire on the slopes above Green Mountain Road. The fire is not currently a threat to the Apex community. Resources have been allocated and we (Apex Fire Rescue) will keep everyone informed.” , he said.
Residents commented on social media that the fire appears to be moving away from Apex.
BCWS expects to have an update within an hour.
Photo: Pim Van Velzen
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UPDATE: 7:40 PM
The BC Wildfire Service continues to respond to the Keremeos Creek wildfire, which has grown rapidly since the Friday afternoon spark outside Penticton near Apex Mountain.
The bushfire is located about 13 miles southwest of Penticton. BCWS said the bushfire is estimated at 100 hectares.
Ten men and two helicopters are on the scene and additional personnel and a construction protection unit are on their way to the hinterland location.
“This wildfire is on a site that is currently unusable to support air tankers and heavy machinery,” BCWS said.
Photo: BCWS
UPDATE: 7:07 PM
Eight BC Wildfire Service personnel and two helicopters are at the scene of a bushfire outside Penticton, near Apex Mountain.
Fire chief Aydan Coray said additional personnel were on their way.
The fire is currently estimated to be eight hectares in size and is believed to have started in the late afternoon.
BCWS expects to release another update in the next hour.
ORIGINAL: 5:45 PM
The BC Wildfire Service has a helicopter at the scene of a wildfire outside Penticton, near Apex Mountain, Friday afternoon.
Fire information officer Aydan Coray said three planes are on their way and once resources are in place BCWS will have some more information about what they see in the area.
The estimated location of the new fire is near Keremeos Creek, at Green Mountain Road and Ford Lake.
Castanet will update this story as more information becomes available.
If you have any photos or videos, please send them to [email protected]
Photo: BCWS