Hundreds ordered to evacuate due fast-moving wildfire near Osoyoos
Posted July 19, 2021 6:54 pm.
Last Updated July 20, 2021 7:09 am.
OSOYOOS (NEWS 1130) — Evacuation orders have been issued by the Osoyoos Indian Band and the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen due to a “rapidly moving” wildfire less than 10 kilometres north of Osoyoos posing “immediate danger to life and safety.” The town of Oliver is also under evacuation alert.
The Inkaneep Creek wildfire was sparked Monday afternoon, and had spread to 700 hectares by Monday night.
The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen says a state of local emergency has been declared by the Osoyoos Indian Band.
Osoyoos Indian Band (OIB) has declared a State of Local Emergency and issued an Evacuation Alert and Evacuation Order. @EmergMgtRDOS is sharing on behalf of OIB. @BCGovFireInfo @TownofOliverBC pic.twitter.com/QAZXkGIv0W
— RDOS EOC (@EmergMgtRDOS) July 20, 2021
About 200 properties are covered by the order, and social media posts from the regional district say that search and rescue crews along with RCMP are “conducting tactical evacuations.”
Evacuation Alerts and Orders pending due to rapidly growing wildfire 6km north of Osoyoos. @EmergMgtRDOS declared State of Local Emergency. SAR assisting RCMP in conducting tactical evacuation for those in immediate risk. @BCGovFireInfo and https://t.co/5EyUmCpIBz for updates.
— RDOS EOC (@EmergMgtRDOS) July 20, 2021
An additional 60 properties between Osoyoos and Oliver have also been ordered to evacuate, the regional district noting the fire is “moving rapidly north into the Regional District boundary.”
EOC Update: Evacuation ORDER issued for Electoral Area C – July 19, 10:30 pm. https://t.co/zsGqqkMEM1 @BCGovFireInfo @TownofOliverBC
— RDOS EOC (@EmergMgtRDOS) July 20, 2021
The district has also issued an evacuation alert for the town of Oliver “for lands within the boundary of the town.”
EOC Update: Evacuation Alert issued for Electoral Area C and Town of Oliver https://t.co/pviNZmpDvw@BCGovFireInfo @TownofOliverBC pic.twitter.com/xA15D8ulPk
— RDOS EOC (@EmergMgtRDOS) July 20, 2021
The wildfire was first observed on Osoyoos Indian Band land, and sent smoke blanketing the South Okanagan and ash raining down as far away as Penticton.
#Evacuation ORDER issued by the Osoyoos Indian Band. More info, addresses & map: https://t.co/7cLvH5z8EM #Osoyoos #OliverBC #BCwildfire
— Emergency Info BC (@EmergencyInfoBC) July 20, 2021
At 5:45 p.m., the BC Wildfire Service told NEWS 1130 the fire was 60 hectares in size.
“We have firefighters and aerial resources on scene personnel on site are reporting aggressive fire behaviour,” said Kyla Fraser, fire information officer.
“We have some steady winds that are contributing to growth, some structures are threatened, but this is an evolving situation so we’ll have more updates over the next few hours.”
By 6:30 p.m. it had grown to 300 hectares.
The #BCWildfire is responding to the Inkaneep Creek wildfire (K52061) located on Osoyoos Indian Band land approximately 6 km north of #Osoyoos. It is estimated to be about 300 hectares in size. Personnel on site are reporting aggressive fire behaviour. pic.twitter.com/X6Ty7kveA2
— BC Wildfire Service (@BCGovFireInfo) July 20, 2021
By 9:45 p.m. it had grown to 700 hectares.
UPDATE: The Inkaneep Creek #BCWildfire is now est. 700 ha in size. 12 personnel remain on site with 5 helicopters. Air tankers have dropped retardant on the western flank of the fire closest to homes. Personnel will remain on site overnight. https://t.co/mxl1AY5eyq
— BC Wildfire Service (@BCGovFireInfo) July 20, 2021
Fortis BC cut power to about 3,000 customers, but service has been restored for most.
“Currently, FortisBC is working with emergency officials to assess damage from a new wildfire at Inkaneep Creek, near Oliver and Osoyoos, and determine any impacts on the FortisBC natural gas and electricity system,” says a statement on the website.
“At the request of emergency officials, we interrupted power to a number of customers in the area. At this time we have restored service to nearly all of our customers, although approximately 30 customers will remain without power until tomorrow. At that time we will be able to fully assess the necessary repairs, once the fire department deems it safe to do so.”
Our crews are in #OliverBC & #OsoyoosBC supporting local emergency services. At their request we've interrupted power to ~3000 customers due to a wildfire in the vicinity. We'll restore service once the fire department deems it is safe to do so. More info: https://t.co/eOFWTYStdk
— FortisBC (@FortisBC) July 20, 2021
The mayor of nearby Oliver, Martin Johansen, told NEWS 1130 early Monday evening that he was anxiously watching to see if the fire will move toward his town and prompt evacuation orders for residents.
“There’s definitely a huge response I can see up to maybe four or five planes in the air, which is a tremendous response in short order, for sure. There’s very heavy smoke coming out of that valley right now,” he says.
“This one has erupted in the last hour and a half, and you just wonder what’s next. The time between now and when it gets dark and the planes can’t fly anymore is really going to tell the story of how far this develops.”
Some more photos of the fire via my dad. (News orgs are welcome to use if they credit Harley Kennedy.) #Osoyoos pic.twitter.com/sClJlkiDvq
— Grace Kennedy (@gracekenn) July 20, 2021
View above Skaha lake, miles from the Black Sage fire… pic.twitter.com/3cAhBUeSaR
— Red Dragon Consulting (@RedDragonConsul) July 20, 2021
Fire on the east side of Osoyoos Lake at the north end. #osoyoos @Kamscan pic.twitter.com/kzejWkN9xh
— GCoop (@gcooper_99) July 19, 2021
Outside of the Osoyoos Cottages. pic.twitter.com/KtYDURsDeY
— Michael Williamson c.a.s. (@soundguy640) July 20, 2021
