Lyonel Doherty
Times-Chronicle
The regional district has rescinded evacuation orders for eight properties in Area A within the Nk’Mip Creek fire zone.
The properties include 1201, 1205, 1501, 1551, 1605, 1721 and 1155 Highway 3. These addresses now shift into evacuation alert only.
In the Town of Osoyoos, evacuation alerts have expired for all properties north of Highway 3, East of Cottonwood Drive. and West of 45th Street.
As of July 27, the regional district reported that a total of 377 properties in Area A and C were under evacuation order, while 454 were under alert in Area C and 221 were under alert in Area A.
The Oliver Landfill, which was recently closed due to the fire, is now open during regular hours.
On Monday the Oliver Fire Department reported an “aggressive” and “unpredictable” fire.
“Our crews have been going hard since the start and their hard work has paid off with the amount of structures they have saved,” the department said on its Facebook page.
They reported that the fire has pushed up into the mountains outside of their protection area.
Dani McIntosh, fire information officer for the BC Wildfire Service, reported Thursday morning that not a lot has changed since Wednesday.
She pointed out that heavy smoke is still preventing them from getting an accurate size of the fire, however, significant growth over the last couple of days will definitely push the size beyond 6,800 hectares.
McIntosh reported “moderate” fire activity today with mostly surface fire behaviour. But crews are expecting fire activity to increase when the smoke clears and it gets hot again, she stated.
McIntosh said crews are continuing to build the eastern containment guard and working on structural protection and danger tree assessment in the Shrike Hill area.
She pointed out that no structures are threatened at this time.
“In these changing conditions, it’s day by day, so we’re just doing our best.”
McIntosh said they are continuing structural protection on Anarchist Mountain, adding that operations are “quiet” around Spirit Ridge in Osoyoos.
The Anarchist Mountain Fire Department has expressed its gratitude for all of the food donations it has received from local businesses.
The department also posted a thank you to the Birdsell children for their kinds words.
Nine-year-old Charlie wrote: “We are so grateful to have you protect our home. Without you we would probably have already left our home for the fire to burn. We wish you the best of luck putting the fire out. Enjoy your cookies and banana bread.”
Today’s resources include 46 structural protection personnel, 134 wildfire crew members, 24 pieces of heavy equipment and five helicopters.
McIntosh said today’s message to the public is follow all evacuation orders and alerts, and give all wildfire personnel space to do their jobs safely.
Photo contributed
Photo contributed
