B.C. Wildfires 2021

Controlled burn above the Irish Creek area, taken at 11:30 a.m. Monday, Aug. 30, 2021. (Okanagan Indian Band - Facebook)

White Rock Lake wildfire nears containment after successful planned burn

BC Wildfire Service estimates the fire could be contained within seven to 10 days

Controlled burn above the Irish Creek area, taken at 11:30 a.m. Monday, Aug. 30, 2021. (Okanagan Indian Band - Facebook)
Mike Biden took this photo of the Skaha Creek fire from Skaha Hills neighbourhood at 10:30 p.m. Aug. 29, 2021. (Mike Biden)

Penticton residents spent a tense night as Skaha Creek fire climbs down hill

No evacuation orders or alerts were issued

Mike Biden took this photo of the Skaha Creek fire from Skaha Hills neighbourhood at 10:30 p.m. Aug. 29, 2021. (Mike Biden)
A grass fire has been updated to a brush fire in Peachland and crews are responding to the scene. (Black Press file photo)

Crews responding to brush fire in Peachland

The fire was first reported at approximately 8:25 p.m.

A grass fire has been updated to a brush fire in Peachland and crews are responding to the scene. (Black Press file photo)
Firefighter at the Garrison Lake wildfire recently. (BC Wildfire)

Evacuation order rescinded for Garrison Lake wildfire, near Princeton

Eastgate and Placer properties in the clear while 2 Kennedy Lake addresses downgraded to alert

Firefighter at the Garrison Lake wildfire recently. (BC Wildfire)
The BC Wildfire Service will try to conduct a 3,500-hectare-sized planned ignition above Westside Road from Irish Creek to the plateau; Six Mile Creek to the plateau; and the plateau to the fireguards on Monday, Aug. 30. (Sandra Detta-Eberle photo)

Update: Ground crews working to identify hotspots and hazards at White Rock Lake fire

The evacuation order for 1,316 properties and alert for 815 properties remain unchanged

The BC Wildfire Service will try to conduct a 3,500-hectare-sized planned ignition above Westside Road from Irish Creek to the plateau; Six Mile Creek to the plateau; and the plateau to the fireguards on Monday, Aug. 30. (Sandra Detta-Eberle photo)
Randy Kirkoski took this photo of the new Skaha Creek wildfire near Penticton.

New Skaha Creek wildfire near Penticton may impact flights

Boaters are reminded to stay close to shore to allow skimmers at both lakes

Randy Kirkoski took this photo of the new Skaha Creek wildfire near Penticton.
Randy Kirkoski took this photo of the new Skaha Creek wildfire near Penticton.

UPDATE: Skaha Creek fire grows to 100 hectares

Fire activity is expected to reduce over the course of the night, according to BC Wildfire

Randy Kirkoski took this photo of the new Skaha Creek wildfire near Penticton.
The BC Wildfire Service used favourable conditions Tuesday, Aug. 24, to begin a small-scale planned ignition operations along the northeastern flank of the White Rock Lake wildfire. Since then, conditions have not been in BCWS’ favour for a 3,000-hectare planned ignition. (Black Press - file photo)

UPDATE: Huge planned ignition for White Rock Lake fire set for Monday

Crews continue to work on 81,000-plus-hectare blaze with help from Canadian Armed Forces

The BC Wildfire Service used favourable conditions Tuesday, Aug. 24, to begin a small-scale planned ignition operations along the northeastern flank of the White Rock Lake wildfire. Since then, conditions have not been in BCWS’ favour for a 3,000-hectare planned ignition. (Black Press - file photo)
The Mount Law wildfire seen from downtown Kelowna on Sunday, Aug. 15, just hours after the fire was first spotted. (Aaron Hemens/Capital News)

Crews make good progress on Mount Law fire in West Kelowna, says BC Wildfire

A small planned ignition is planned today (Aug. 29) if weather conditions remain favourable

The Mount Law wildfire seen from downtown Kelowna on Sunday, Aug. 15, just hours after the fire was first spotted. (Aaron Hemens/Capital News)
Aerial photographs of the Skaha Creek Fire taken by BC Wildfire Service on Saturday, Aug. 28. (BC Wildfire Service)

Skaha Creek wildfire up to 17 hectares as daylight fades

The fire was first spotted on Saturday afternoon

Aerial photographs of the Skaha Creek Fire taken by BC Wildfire Service on Saturday, Aug. 28. (BC Wildfire Service)
The remains of a large structure and vehicles destroyed by the Lytton Creek wildfire are seen on the side of the Trans-Canada Highway near Lytton, B.C., Sunday, Aug. 15, 2021. Wildfires that race through communities incinerating ingredients that make up modern day life can leave behind a trail of toxic metal, says an expert. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Mix of toxic pollutants left behind in ash after wildfires scorch communities: expert

‘You don’t want children crawling around on soil with, you know, high levels of metals’

The remains of a large structure and vehicles destroyed by the Lytton Creek wildfire are seen on the side of the Trans-Canada Highway near Lytton, B.C., Sunday, Aug. 15, 2021. Wildfires that race through communities incinerating ingredients that make up modern day life can leave behind a trail of toxic metal, says an expert. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
A new wildfire has been spotted burning near the Penticton Airport. (Brennan Phillips/Western News Staff)

UPDATE: Skaha Creek Wildfire near Penticton now over 6 hectares

Skimmer planes and air tankers have been deployed

A new wildfire has been spotted burning near the Penticton Airport. (Brennan Phillips/Western News Staff)
Vernon residents cheer on firefighters as they return to camp from the White Rock Lake fire. (Jennifer Smith - Morning Star)

‘Positive progress’ being made on all flanks of White Rock Lake wildfire

60 Canadian Armed Forces personnel were been deployed on Saturday, an additional 60 coming Sunday

Vernon residents cheer on firefighters as they return to camp from the White Rock Lake fire. (Jennifer Smith - Morning Star)
A helicopter surverys the Mount Law wildfire, just above Preston Road and Glonrosa Road in West Kelowna on Wednesday, Aug. 18. (Aaron Hemens/Capital News)

Firefighters from Mexico assisting with Mount Law wildfire near West Kelowna

Skimmer aircraft are also planning on conducting a practice water drop on the blaze on Saturday

A helicopter surverys the Mount Law wildfire, just above Preston Road and Glonrosa Road in West Kelowna on Wednesday, Aug. 18. (Aaron Hemens/Capital News)
Newly arrived members of 1 Combat Engineer Regiment (CER) at Land Task Force – Vernon, receive an in-brief from the Camp Sergeant Major. 1 CER is deploying as part of Operation LENTUS in assistance to BC Wildfire Service. (Captain Jamie Blois, Public Affairs Officer, Land Task Force – Vernon photo)

Military on the move from 100 Mile House to Vernon to join White Rock Lake wildfire fight

More members of Canadian Armed Forces to make trip Saturday

Newly arrived members of 1 Combat Engineer Regiment (CER) at Land Task Force – Vernon, receive an in-brief from the Camp Sergeant Major. 1 CER is deploying as part of Operation LENTUS in assistance to BC Wildfire Service. (Captain Jamie Blois, Public Affairs Officer, Land Task Force – Vernon photo)
Under clear, sunny skies on Aug. 24, 2021, the Salmon Arm Fire Camp on 10th Avenue SW houses a fluctuating population of 150 firefighters and service providers. Crews work 14 days on and then four days off, if the wildfire situation allows it. (Martha Wickett - Salmon Arm Observer)

Size of wildfire group in Shuswap leads to creation of ‘small city’ within a city

BC Wildfire spokesperson calls Salmon Arm Fire Camp an ‘absolutely fantastic site’

Under clear, sunny skies on Aug. 24, 2021, the Salmon Arm Fire Camp on 10th Avenue SW houses a fluctuating population of 150 firefighters and service providers. Crews work 14 days on and then four days off, if the wildfire situation allows it. (Martha Wickett - Salmon Arm Observer)
A photo of a drug lab found in a home ordered evacuated due to the Mount Law wildfire. (Contributed/West Kelowna RCMP)

Police uncover drug lab in West Kelowna home under evacuation order due to Mount Law wildfire

Mounties found a drug lab while helping evacuate homes near the Mount Law wildfire on Aug. 21

A photo of a drug lab found in a home ordered evacuated due to the Mount Law wildfire. (Contributed/West Kelowna RCMP)
B.C. Premier John Horgan and Forests Minister Katrine Conroy visit B.C. Wildfire Service southeast fire centre in Castlegar, July 21, 2021. This week they toured the North Okanagan and stopped at Logan Lake fire department Friday. (B.C. government photo)

Premier says Logan Lake wildfire prevention a model for B.C.

FireSmart fuel management spared community damage

B.C. Premier John Horgan and Forests Minister Katrine Conroy visit B.C. Wildfire Service southeast fire centre in Castlegar, July 21, 2021. This week they toured the North Okanagan and stopped at Logan Lake fire department Friday. (B.C. government photo)
A fire sparked on Cedar Ridge in Lumby late Thursday afternoon was quickly extinguished by firefighters. (Jesse van der Muelen photo)

Suspicious fire sparked again in Lumby under investigation

Fifth blaze since last year in Cedar Ridge area

A fire sparked on Cedar Ridge in Lumby late Thursday afternoon was quickly extinguished by firefighters. (Jesse van der Muelen photo)
Campfire. (Phil McLachlan - Black Press Media - File)

B.C. Wildfire defends lift of campfire bans in parts of province as summer subsides

A campfire is any fire smaller than 0.5 metres wide by 0.5 metres high

  • Aug 27, 2021
Campfire. (Phil McLachlan - Black Press Media - File)