Update: Richter Mountain Fire ‘being held’ at 403 hectares
Update 3 p.m.
The B.C. Wildfire Service now says the Richter Mountain fire is ‘being held” at 403 hectares.
“The fire is showing a low level of fire activity. It is primarily a smoldering ground fire and not producing a lot of smoke. Today’s suppression efforts will be focused on the ground, with less emphasis on air support, as additional crews are onsite. Crews are working in steep terrain with loose rock and site safety is a priority. The fire status has now been changed to Being Held,” said the Service on its website.
Update 11 a.m.
There are five active fires in the Kamloops Fire Centre as of today — with the largest still the Richter Mountain fire west of Osoyoos and south of Cawson.
The B.C. Wildfire Service issued an update this morning, saying the lightning-caused-fire is now at 403 hectares and showing a low level of fire activity, primarily a smouldering ground fire.
“Today’s suppression efforts will be focused on the ground, with less emphasis on air support, as additional crews are onsite. Crews are working in steep terrain with loose rock and site safety is a priority,” said the Service on its website.
One-hundred and-fourty-five firefighters and eight helicopters are involved in the suppression efforts.
Ground crews and heavy equipment continue working to build guard on the north and east portions of the fire. A plan is in place to assess and fall danger trees that could be a hazard to crews. Helicopters continue bucketing today to cool hot spots of the fire. Crews are working 24 hours a day on this fire,” the Service added.
An Evacuation Alert has been issued by the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen Emergency Operations Centre (RDOS EOC).
Visit www.rdos.bc.ca for more information.
Update 6 a.m. July 29
The Richter Mountain fire west of Osoyoos is still classified as out of control at 400 hectares.
The size increased yesterday due to better mapping.
More than 100 firefighters and a number of aircraft have been working on it.
UPDATE: Due to more accurate mapping, the Richter Mountain Wildfire (K51089) is now estimated at 400 hectares in size. For #EvacuationAlert information visit @EmergMgtRDOS. For road information visit @DriveBC. #BCwildfire pic.twitter.com/m8wPt5dwEu
— BC Wildfire Service (@BCGovFireInfo) July 29, 2019
Update 11 p.m.
“Responders have been working hard and continue to make good progress in their response efforts. Night operations continue with 20 personnel on site again tonight working with heavy equipment,” said the Wildfire Service on Twitter.
Update 8:30 p.m.
The Richter Mountain Wildfire remains at an estimated 250 hectares in size.
“The strong winds experienced this afternoon have pushed the fire back on itself which has limited fire growth,” said the B.C. Wildfire Service on Twitter.
Update 12 p.m.
The Richter Mountain Wildfire west of Osoyoos is now 250 hectares.
“This growth occurred away from structures and communities and is a result of winds that occurred yesterday (Friday) evening,” stated a tweet from the B.C. Wildfire Service.
The Service said there are 67 personnel and heavy equipment on site with aircraft supporting their suppression efforts.
“Fire activity may increase throughout the day as increased wind speeds are forecast for this afternoon,” added the tweet.
Update July 27
The B.C. Wildfire Service says the Richter Mountain Wildfire west of Osoyoos is now 150 hectares as a result of winds and warmer drying conditions.
“There are 63 personnel on site with helicopters and airtanker support. These resources will be working into the evening & 20 personnel will work overnight with heavy equipment,” said the Service in a tweet Friday night.
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July 26
The wildfire burning in the South Okanagan has grown, but officials say crews continue to make good progress on it.
The Richter Mountain fire, west of Osoyoos, is listed as 80 hectares, up from the 60 on Thursday.
Nicole Bonnett, information officer with the B.C. Wildfire Service, said downslope winds caused the growth toward Highway 3 overnight.
“We had a very rough estimate of 100 hectares early this morning as a result of that growth but we’ve done a better track of it and it’s been adjusted to 80 hectares,” Bonnett told Vernon Matters.
That led to Highway 3 being closed for a few hours, but it has since been reopened.
“The RCMP closed down the highway early this morning, and we recommended it be reopened to Drive B.C., so at about 7 [a.m.] it was reopened,” Bonnett said.
Bonnett said crews are making gains on the fire believed to be lightning-caused.
“Progress is still being made, but depending on weather or inversions and how the air mass moves through the valley, you can get some downslope winds late at night or early in the morning in that area,” she said.
Residents of several homes near the fire had to use their own equipment and hoses to protect their property overnight.
Melissa Genberg, who lives across the highway from the fire, said the strong winds overnight created what she called a wall of fire, and had residents out trying to
control the fire in case it came any closer to their property.
Richter Mountain is the largest of four active fires in the Kamloops Fire Centre, with the other three spot sized (under one hectare), and also in the southern part of the zone.
There are also three spot sized fires listed in the Southeast Fire Centre in the same general area, south of Beaverdell, and north of Grand Forks near Conkle Lake, Big Goat Creek and Boyer Creek.
Provincially, there are 36 active fires, with five in the last two days.