Times-Chronicle staff
Fire officials continue to encourage people to “FireSmart” their properties. And what better time to do that then now?
An ember storm is one of the main causes of structural damage during a wildfire.
Members of the Oliver Fire Department have been doing structural protection triaging of the Nk’Mip fire, quickly “fire smarting” structures by removing flammable material from around the buildings and placing them in a pile in a defendable spot.
During one such triage a Captain from the Osoyoos Fire Department providing mutual aid found some material burning on someone’s deck due to an ember storm. This could have easily turned into structural loss.
On Wednesday, Oliver firefighters were called to a large grass fire in the 3,000 block of McKinney Road. Crews provided structural protection while assisting BC Wildfire personnel. Fortunately, no structures were impacted by the fire.
Officials suspect the fire was caused by the existing Nk’Mip Creek wildfire that jumped a guard.
Residents can start “fire smarting” their properties by simply removing flammable materials away from their homes.
A wildfire crew stands ready to deploy at the Oliver Airport.
(Photo by Lyonel Doherty)
