More than 200 properties in the BC Interior resort community of Apex Mountain Village have been ordered to evacuate as firefighters continue to battle a wildfire in the area.
Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS) issued an evacuation order for the area Monday morning due to the Keremeos Creek wildfire southwest of Penticton, BC, in the southern interior of the province. Dozens of other properties in Apex Mountain they are on evacuation alert too.
The ski resort has been using its snow machines to throw fog at the buildings to try to protect them from the fire.
James Shalman, the resort’s general manager, said RCMP were going door-to-door with the evacuation order Monday.
“Right now things are looking good, but you never know if the wind changes and Mother Nature turns things sideways,” he said.
He estimated that “a couple of hundred” people live in the village during the summer months.
The 4.4 square kilometer Keremeos Creek wildfire, about 21 kilometers south of Penticton, B.C., is seen in an aerial photograph Sunday afternoon. (Submitted by BC Wildfire Service)
The fire, which was discovered on Friday, was last estimated at 4.4 square kilometers in size and is confirmed to have destroyed one structure so far.
The BC Wildfire Service said the fire became more aggressive Sunday afternoon, particularly in the southwest corner, and a more accurate estimate of the size is expected Monday.
The cause of the wildfire is still under investigation, but it has already prompted other evacuation orders and alerts in the area.
RDOS Information Officer Erick Thompson reminded people under an evacuation alert to be prepared to leave at short notice.
Thompson said people who have to leave their homes can register with the province’s evacuee registration and assistance program to get shelter if they can’t stay with family or friends.
Campfire ban at Kamloops Fire Station
A second major fire inside, the Nohomin Creek fire northwest of Lytton, it was steady at about 29 square kilometers on Monday morning.
Fire conditions remained hot and dry Sunday, but afternoon fire activity did not increase as much as in previous days, according to the BC Wildfire Service.
The wildfire service also announced Monday that a campfire ban will soon be in place for the Kamloops Fire Center, covering both the Keremeos Creek and Nohomin Creek fires.
As of noon Thursday, all campfires, fireworks, sky lanterns, burn barrels, chimineas and tiki torches will be banned in the region. The restrictions will remain in place until October 15.
A statement announcing the ban said fire danger ratings across the fire center are currently “high” or “extreme” due to hot, dry weather.