Don Urquhart
Times-Chronicle
The Nk’Mip Creek wildfire moderated slightly on Monday after erratic winds, high temperatures and low relative humidity have made the fire extremely volatile in the last week.
In an update Tuesday morning, the BCWS said fire activity a day earlier was “moderate” consisting mostly of surface fire and some trees torching. “The fire was still active but not as challenging as previous days,” it said.
Stronger winds and shifting directions have resulted in more intense fire behaviour in the evenings during the last week, contrary to typical patterns, and this has led to numerous challenges, said Jane Park, B.C. Wildfire Service incident commander in a briefing Monday.
While the fire is still listed at 6,800 hectares in size, “there has been significant growth, but heavy smoke has limited our ability to determine the size,” Park noted.
Most of the growth has occurred on the northern edge along the western end of Camp McKinney Rd where there has been fire excursion over the road, which has posed challenges near the Shrike Hill subdivision, she said. “We have had crews there overnight protecting structures and to work on containment in that area.”
The other area of fire growth is on the Anarchist Ridge area and Park said specialist units are working both there and in Shrike/Camp McKinney Rd area where heavy equipment is also being used. Good progress was made Monday on the eastern cat guard and the contingency line near Mt. Baldy and Sidley Meadows.
Firefighting personnel and heavy equipment were on site overnight to protect structures in/near Shrike subdivision with the BCWS adding that fire behaviour was also less intense than previous operational periods.
An aerial infrared scan has been requested but “air resources are limited at this time,” Park said.
On Tuesday the BCWS’ Division A crews will be assessing danger trees near Shrike Hill. Crews will continue to patrol and mop up around Shrike and northern Nk’Mip Rd, burning off any unburnt fuel, reinforcing existing guards and extinguishing hotspots. Personnel will assess the Mt Baldy area for structure protection and containment needs, it added.
Division Z is continuing structure protection near the Anarchist Mountain community. Patrols and mop up continue around Spirit Ridge on the fire’s southern perimeter and along southern Nk’Mip Rd. Crews are constructing and reinforcing hand guard to tie into machine guards on the fires south edge and eastward.
Among the many challenges, the high temperatures are making it difficult for firefighters on the ground. “We have a 24-hour operational period so it is extremely taxing for the crews that are on the ground, as well as the aircraft in the air,” Park said.
Following her recommendation on Monday, the evacuation order was lifted for properties west of Nk’Mip Rd. According to the RDOS this shifts 23 addresses from evacuation order to alert status which puts the total number under evacuation at 545 with 159 now under alert.
Expressing gratitude for the assistance of the 98 firefighters and two liaison personnel from Mexico, Park said they will be fully integrated into the ongoing operations.
A fire camp is currently being set up and expected to be operational on Thursday at the infield of Desert Park Racetrack in Osoyoos. The camp will house the Mexican contingent who are here for up to 30 days, along with other firefighters including those from out-of-province, according to Dani McIntosh, BC Wildfire Service information officer.
The BCWS Incident Management Team tasked with the Nk’Mip Creek wildfire is now on the ground locally and will make Desert Park Racetrack their operational headquarters as well.
At the southern end of the wildfire, the Anarchist Mountain Fire Department (AMFD) reported relative calm in the area.
“Things have been calm, but this is a sneaky fire and things could change with the wind,” said AMFD fire chief Urs Grob.
“We have to continue to be diligent watching what is happening. This fire is a sleeping giant and we don’t want to wake him,” Grob added. AMFD crews were working to put out spot fires and to date, there has been no structure loss in their area.
Meanwhile, Osoyoos Mayor Sue McKortoff announced the extension of the State of Local Emergency for the town saying it will be reviewed on a weekly basis. All evacuation alerts remain in place as well.
In Oliver, Mayor Martin Johansen said the state of emergency was being lifted there.
Dawn Russell, a member of the Penticton Indian Band and indigenous liaison at the RDOS relayed a message on behalf of the Osoyoos Indian Band who, “would like to express their gratitude for the visitors who cut their holiday short which would further enable our evacuees accommodation during this time.”
She added that the OIB also expressed their gratitude for the outpouring of support and donations.
