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Photos: Joe Rich fire creates ‘cauliflower cloud’

A total of 96 firefighters, 5 helicopters and 8 pieces of heavy equipment are tackling the blaze today
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Leesa Beeson captured this image of the Philpott Road fire.

As the fire took off up the hill in Joe Rich and smoke billowed in to the sky, it appeared like a cauliflower cloud from a passing plane.

Leesa Beeson captured the images above and below of the Philpott Road fire as she climbed out of the area at 29,000 feet.

Beeson lives in West Kelowna and works for WestJet. She was flying over Kelowna on a flight from Vancouver to Calgary when the pilot got her attention. They flew over the plume of smoke just before 3:30 p.m. on Aug. 29.

She took a video from the flight deck and then grabbed the cauliflower photos from within the cabin.

“It was just wild, absolutely bizarre, to see it with your own eyes,” said Beeson.

“The pictures don’t even do it justice. You don’t see that we could see it was actually moving, it was really wild.”

Related: Photos: Fighting a wildfire from above

The Philpott Road fire is currently pegged at 465 hectares and is considered 20 per cent contained.

“The fire is burning in heavy timber and steep terrain,” reports the BC Wildfire Service.

“A BCWS crew worked overnight, strengthening the control line on the north flank. Today, crews will work the perimeter while being supported by air and heavy equipment.

“The BC Wildfire Service is continuing to work alongside local fire departments, structural protection crews and contract crews. Hot, dry conditions are expected to remain a challenge over the coming days. There is currently no rainfall in the forecast.”

Related: Premier hails ‘extraordinary’ effort by fire crews

A total of 96 firefighters, five helicopters and eight pieces of heavy equipment are tackling the blaze today.

Although the fire has come within a few hundred metres of properties, no structures have been impacted so far.

Related: No structures impacted by fire in Joe Rich

Highway 33 has reopened in both directions.


 

@carmenweld
carmen.weld@bpdigital.ca

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Leesa Beeson captured this image of the Philpott Road fire.
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Leesa Beeson captured this image of the Philpott Road fire.