Two fires burning near Penticton showing minimal fire behaviour

Photo: Randy Kirkoski

A helicopter drops water on the Hedges Butte wildfire.

UPDATE 7:05 p.m.

The City of Penticton is standing down its Emergency Operations Centre activated because of the Skaha Creek wildfire.

“We are very grateful to BC Wildfire Service and the Penticton Indian Band for their quick and effective response,” said Penticton EOC Director, Donny Van Dyk. “We also want to thank the community for their cooperation and support during the fire.”

UPDATE: 4:05 p.m.

The Penticton Indian Band EOC has rescinded all alert notices for the Skaha Creek fire and the Hedges Butte fire.

There are no properties on alert within the jurisdiction.

The PIB EOC says they will be standing down until Tuesday, September 7th.

ORIGINAL: 11:50 p.m.

Fire behaviour on the two fires burning near Penticton was minimal Saturday, and it's expected to remain the same Sunday.

The Hedges Butte wildfire was sparked Friday morning off Green Mountain Road, about 12 kilometres southwest of Penticton, and it quickly grew to 236 hectares in size. Meanwhile, the Skaha Creek fire, just west of the Penticton Regional Airport, has been burning for a week.

Cooler conditions this weekend have slowed the fires' growth, and crews continue to make progress on containing the two blazes.

“Conditions are expected to start cloudy in the morning and clearing in the afternoon with temperatures slightly warmer than yesterday and light winds,” the BC Wildfire Service said in a Sunday morning update about the Hedges Butte fire.

“Fire behaviour is expected to be minimal once again, today. These conditions will help crews continue to make progress on the containment of the fire.”

Fifty-one firefighters are working to control the Hedge Butte fire, with support from eight helicopters. The helicopters have been bucketing the fire since Friday.

“Crews will continue to work around the east side of the fire with suppression activities,” the BCWS said. “Helicopters will be supporting ground crews with bucketing, as required and machine guard construction is ongoing with heavy equipment.”

The official cause of the fire remains under investigation, but it appears to have started along the side of Green Mountain Road.

Sixty-five homes in the area remain under an evacuation alert.

Meanwhile, the 236-hectare Skaha Creek fire continues to hold above the guards that crews have put around it. Smoke from the fire is still visible from Penticton, but the fire has not grown in recent days.