By Don Urquhart, Times Chronicle
UPDATE (original story below): July 13, 2:52 p.m.
BC Wildfire Service has updated the size of the fire to 2.21 ha. Currently 13 BCWS firefighters are responding to the fire alongside about a dozen fire engines from the fire departments of the South Okanagan Similkameen Task Force along with two helicopters.
UPDATE (original story below): July 13, 2:45 p.m.
Jared Sisson, a resident of Anarchist Mountain, told the Times Chronicle that residents have been asked to turn on their sprinklers and “have our ‘go bags’ ready”. At this point no evacuation alerts or orders have been issued.
Any evacuation alert or orders will be issued by the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS) for Anarchist Mountain in Electoral Area “A”. Residents will be alerted through Voyent Alert!.
A view of the wildfire further up the mountain.
Jared Sisson photo
ORIGINAL STORY:
The Anarchist Mountain Fire Department has activated the South Okanagan Similkameen Task Force which brings available fire fighting resources from the South Okanagan to assist in fighting an out-of-control wildfire on Anarchist Mountain. About a dozen fire trucks have raced through Osoyoos over the span of nearly an hour around noon today.
BC Wildfire Service lists the fire as being on “Regal Ridge”indicating it is now 1.7 ha in size and is “human caused” according to an update on July 13, 1:49 p.m. No further details are available that this time. BC Wildfire is also assisting and has a spotter aircraft in the air surveying the fire.
The wildfire is currently burning between Sasquatch Trail and Cougar Court.
Michelle Grant-Macht photo via Facebook
About a dozen fire trucks have raced through Osoyoos, headed to the Anarchist Mountain community via Hwy. 3. Pictured above, a firefighting truck and crew from Keremeos Volunteer Fire Department.
Don Urquhart photo
The AMFD said there is no additional information at this time but noted that residents should expect multiple fire apparatus travelling through local communities, particularly Osoyoos, as firefighting equipment makes its way up Anarchist Mountain via Hwy. 3.
Oliver Fire Department says it has deployed eight members and two apparatus to assist AMFD in its wildfire response.
Smoke rises in the distance as the Anarchist Mountain wildfire is seen from across the lake.
Don Urquhart photo
According to residents of Anarchist Mountain posting on social media, the fire is located near Cougar Court and moving towards Sasquatch.
The South Okanagan Task Force is unique in that while it is part of the Mutual Aid Agreements common in the province this structure effectively streamlines the process. Urs Grob, Chief of the Anarchist Mountain Fire Department earlier explained that one call to the dispatcher and all participating South Okanagan fire departments get the call.
The idea came about nearly five years ago and was first used during the Keremeos Creek wildfire and various fires including the Upper Park Rill Creek wildfire near Willowbrook in 2023.
“We get an answer whoever is available, we never know how many,” he said, adding that “it’s better to have too much than not enough.”
BC Wildfire Service map showing location of the wildfire which it lists as “Regal Ridge”.
The Times Chronicle will update this story as more information becomes available.
