UPDATE 9:27 p.m.
BC Wildfire Service confirmed that the Hilda Creek fire is officially out as of Thursday night. The two other blazes near Big White continue to burn.
Twenty-two firefighters, one helicopter and two pieces of heavy equipment continue to taking on the other fires that remain out of control, and are in close proximity of one another, according to Shaelee Stearns, fire information officer with the BCWS.
The Derickson Lake fire remains at 1300 hectares and the Long Loch fire still sits at 100 hectares.
UPDATE 3:05 p.m.
Fire crews continue to tackle the three fires located near Big White, in which BC Wildfire Services said they are all still classified as out of control.
The fires were previously reported at sizes smaller than they reached as of Thursday. All three were discovered on Tuesday.
The Hilda Creek fire is estimated at two hectares at this time. The cause of the fire is undetermined and 18 personnel are on-site battling the blaze, according to Sarah Hall, fire information officer with the BC Wildfire Service.
Nearby, 22 firefighters, one helicopter and two pieces of heavy equipment are taking on the other two fires that are very close to one another.
The Derickson Lake fire has now been reported at 1300 hectares, previously stated at 100 hectares. The fire is expected to be human-caused.
The Long Loch fire, now sits at 100 hectares and is suspected to be lightning-caused, but is undetermined at this time.
Kelowna area residents are reminded to download the BC wildfire app for updates and alerts.
“As well if individuals are engaging in activities in the backcountry, just remain super vigilant and don’t participate in any activities that could cause a wildfire. And if you see any smoke or anything to call it into our 1-800 line to report a wildfire,” Hall added.
BCWS expects to have an update either later in the afternoon or evening.
To report a wildfire or open burning violation, call *5555 on a cellphone or 1-800-663-5555 toll-free.
UPDATE 10 a.m.
BC Wildfire has some good news regarding the three fires burning in the Big White area.
The size of the fires have been downgraded after a morning sky patrol and BC Wildfire Information Officer Shalee Stearns tells Castanet that the three fires have not combined.
“They are in close proximity but they have not combined and K51041 is now listed at 50 hectares, (down from 100 hectares) and the K51040 fire is a hundred hectares.”
K51037 is also burning in the same area and it has grown to two hectares as of Thursday morning.
Earlier Wednesday, the BC Wildfire Service said three small fires were burning in the Graystokes area north of Big White, but the Long Loch (K51040) wildfire and the Derrickson Lake (K51041) wildfire grew significantly throughout the day and due to the fires’ aggressive behaviour, BC Wildfire Service pulled back its firefighters from the area to protect them.
“The initial size estimates were just estimates and it was difficult to determine the actual fire size because of the smoke in the area. That 300 hectares was estimated as the three fires as one because they are in such close proximity, but they have not combined, and that is good news.”
Stearns says this isn’t being considered a 24-hour fire at this stage and crews are headed to the area to begin battling the blaze on the ground. “We do have resources headed to it today included two helicopters and more resources will be allocated throughout the day as they are needed.”
While smoke from the fires is highly visible from Kelowna, Vernon, Big White and other surrounding areas, the BC Wildfire Service says no structures or properties are currently threatened. They’re burning about 18 kilometres from Big White.
ORIGINAL 5:20 a.m.
The provincial government has called upon the local forestry sector to help build guard around a pair of large wildfires burning north of Big White.
Castanet News has learned Tolko and others in the industry are being asked to help the Ministry of Forests with the fires burning in the Graystokes area.
The B.C. Wildfire Service said Tuesday afternoon it was forced to pull its crews back off the Long Loch wildfire and the Derrickson Lake wildfire due to extremely aggressive fire behaviour.
The last estimate provided placed the fires at 300 hectares combined, but that was a rough figure due to smoke and fire behaviour.
The fires were discovered shortly after a thunderstorm rolled through the area on Monday evening, although the B.C. Wildfire Service map indicates one of the blazes was human-caused.
This story will be updated throughout the day.
