By Don Urquhart, Times Chronicle
Heavy smoke that filled the south Okanagan valley around Oliver and Osoyoos this afternoon (May 7) was from a wildfire burning in the US approximately 18 km south of Osoyoos according to the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS).
The BCWS’ Kamloops Fire Centre said in a statement that it was aware of the wildfire and was supporting with air tanker resources. It also said it was “in communication with our partners in the US.” Two US helicopters were also working the wildfire.
“Smoke from this wildfire is highly visible to communities in the south Okanagan,” the BCWS added.
The Watch Duty wildfire tracking website shows the location of the “Wannacut” wildfire.
The fire evoked memories of the Eagle Bluff wildfire of July 2023 that also began near Oroville, Washington and raced across the border, driven by strong winds ultimately prompting evacuation orders for over 700 properties.
This current fire was identified on the Watch Duty wildfire tracking website as the “Wannacut Fire” named for the adjacent lake in Okanogan County and had reached around 100 acres in size (40.5 hectares) by around 6 pm. The wildfire is wind driven and moving North East, according to Okanogan County Emergency Management.
County officials issued a “Level 1” advisory for some areas around the wildfire which means residents should be aware of their surroundings and prepare for a potential evacuation. Okanogan County has three evacuation levels: Level 1 – Advisory, Level 2 – Be Ready, and Level 3 – Immediate Evacuations.
There were no reports of any structures being damaged or injuries sustained as of Wed. evening.
