The Eagle Bluff wildfire north of Oliver is now 600 hectares. (Dan Walton / Aberdeen Publishing)

Update 11 p.m.:

The Eagle Bluff wildfire north of Oliver has grown to 600 hectares.

BC Wildfire Service is crediting the significant growth to terrain and extreme conditions.

Crews are battling the blaze overnight, and if the fire advances towards structures personnel will start to complete controlled burns to remove combustible fuels between the fire and the nearby Gallagher Lake community.

“With the current weather and cooler temperatures, the advancing fire perimeter has slowed and is beginning to back on itself,” BC Wildfire stated.

Evacuation alerts for properties east of Highway 97 north of Oliver remain.

Update 11 a.m.:

The Eagle Bluff wildfire north of Oliver continues to grow, and BC Wildfire Service is estimating it to now be 280 hectares. However, BC Wildfire says the growth was minimal and mostly a result of more accurate mapping.

Twenty personnel remained onsite overnight, and 80 firefighters continue to battle the blaze today, assisted by helicopters and airtankers.

An evacuation alert remains in place for Gallagher Lake properties east of Highway 97.

Firefighters continue to battle a blaze north of Oliver. (BC Wildfire Service)

Update 3:30 p.m.:

Firefighters continue to battle the Eagle Bluff wildfire near the Gallagher Lake community north of Oliver.

Now estimated to be 200 hectares, BC Wildfire Service is classifying the fire as an interface fire, meaning that it has the potential to involve buildings and forest fuel or vegetation simultaneously. An evacuation alert for nearby properties east of Highway 97 remains in place.

“A structure protection specialist is on scene and will be assessing residences in the evacuation alert area. Structure protection units have been deployed to the incident as well,” BC Wildfire Service stated.

One hundred personnel, along with eight helicopters and airtankers and two water tenders, are on site.

Crews will continue to operate 24 hours a day until further notice.

“Resources are continually challenged by the steep and rocky terrain in the area and site safety is a priority,” BC Wildfire Service stated.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

A smoky skies bulletin has been issued for the South Okanagan, including Osoyoos, and residents are advised to be mindful that exposure to smoke could affect health.

Original story:

Properties east of Highway 97 near Gallagher Lake are on evacuation alert due to a wildfire burning near Eagle Bluff. (RDOS)

Several homes in the Gallagher Lake area north of Oliver are on evacuation alert after a wildfire started east of Highway 97 late Sunday night.

BC Wildfire Service is battling the blaze near Eagle Bluff, estimated to be 120 hectares in size. The cause of the fire is not yet known.

The Regional District Okanagan-Similkameen issued an evacuation alert at 2 a.m. for properties on the east side of the highway, extending south from McIntyre Creek Road to James Way south of Gallagher Lake, including Brauns Road and Gallagher Lake Road.

The alert further includes all properties on James Way, extending southeast to McKinney Road at Manuels Creek Road, and extending north along the west side of Manuels Creek Road to approximately 3.5 kilometres on McIntyre Creek Road.

Properties and measures to prepare for an evacuation order are strongly advised.