A fire burning within the Kamloops Fire Centre has grown to 225 hectares in size.
In an update just before 8:30 p.m., the BC Wildfire Service says 20 personnel will work overnight on the Eagle Bluff wildfire, located between Oliver and Okanagan Falls in the South Okanagan.
There were just over 100 personnel attending the fire during the day today, after the blaze was first spotted before 11 p.m. last night. Six water bombers and four air tankers were visible throughout the day flying over Vaseux Lake, where they were bucketing water, as well as Skaha Lake to the north.
Meanwhile, 42 properties within the Regional District Okanagan-Similkameen are under an evacuation alert, and a list of those properties can be found here. A structural protection unit is also set up on the fire’s east side but it’s unclear if any properties have been impacted.
The fire’s cause is not yet known but the blaze is suspected to be human caused. Skies were clear in the area at the time the fire broke out on Sunday night.
Eagle Bluff wildfire north of #OliverBC is now at 200 hectares in size. Structural protection units are on scene and there are about 100 firefighters on scene. 6 helicopters and 3 air tankers also on scene, picking up water from Vaseux Lake. @RadioNLNews #BCWildfire pic.twitter.com/VEOU2pIzrq
— Colton Davies (@ColtonDavies_) August 5, 2019
UPDATE: The Eagle Bluff fire is ~225 ha. Airtankers on site this evening dropped retardant along the east flank to limit the potential for overnight growth. 20 personnel will continue to work through the night. More information here: https://t.co/lcp78UXToS #BCWildfire pic.twitter.com/tERDQh6uop
— BC Wildfire Service (@BCGovFireInfo) August 6, 2019
Was clear blue skies when sun went down in osoyoos last night. This was 500am today. First smell of smoke this year @Kamscan pic.twitter.com/q9RNzyQp3W
— Mike O’Reilly (@mikeoreilly2018) August 5, 2019
