By Don Urquhart, Times Chronicle
Some Osoyoos residents were given a chilling reminder of last year’s Eagle Bluff wildfire that swept across the border from the US last summer with a small but very visible wildfire starting last night just north of Oroville, Washington.
Residents with a view south could see a fire burning on the American shore of Osoyoos Lake which Times Chronicle understands has been brought under control.
Speaking to BC Wildfire Service, Aydan Coray Fire Information Officer in the Kamloops Fire Centre said the BC Wildfire office in Penticton communicated with officials in Washington State.
July 4 fire on the American shores of Osoyoos Lake just north of Oroville, Washington. Greg Reely photo.
“They were keeping a close eye and keeping in communication for any potential coordinated response that might be needed,” she said.
“We do have our resources on standby as we do every weekend. So should anything be needed we do have resources available to respond,” Coray added.
Osoyoos Fire Rescue Chief Cory Kortmeyer said his department keeps an eye on fires that develop across the border, particularly after last year’s fire that threatened the Dividend Ridge subdivision.
“We’re always being diligent in relation to what is happening across the border because of what happened last year. It’s just access to what I would call ‘tactical information’ which can be the most challenging,” he said. In the case of the Eagle Bluff wildfire, the Osoyoos Fire Rescue relied on information from BC Wildfire which has official channels with counterparts in Washington State.
Meanwhile with the BC Interior about to hit with a heatwave with temperatures expected to reach nearly 40°C in Oliver and Osoyoos and through much of the Okanagan Valley, BC Wildfire is evaluating the need for a campfire ban in the Kamloops Fire Centre which covers this area.
Environment Canada is forecasting temperatures to hit 37°C in this area on consecutive days.
“Over the next week we are expecting temperatures to increase, and that’ll be accompanied by increased wildfire risk so we do have crews on standby at all our locations around the fire centre,” she said, these include Kamloops, Salmon Arm, Vernon, Penticton, Princeton, Merritt, Lillooet and Lytton.
“Looking through the weekend period just a reminder to folks that they are going to be using a campfire or just participating in recreational activities outside, just stay vigilant,” she urged. She also advised to ensure water and hand tools are on hand when having a campfire.
Wildfires can be reported to 1-800-663-5555 or through the BC Wildfire Service phone app. Coray urged people to use this method of reporting a fire as it allows users to “attach a photo and show us what you’re seeing in real-time which can help us make operational decisions that much quicker.”
July 4 fire on the American shores of Osoyoos Lake just north of Oroville, Washington. Greg Reely photo.
