Out-of-control wildfire pushing closer to resort in B.C. Interior
Thick plumes of smoke pumping into the air near B.C.'s Apex Mountain Resort make the threat obvious to hundreds of people on evacuation alert in the area due to a wildfire.
"Yeah, we’re getting a little concerned now," said Chris Martens, as he loaded his truck with important possessions, in case he and his neighbours are ordered to leave the area.
The Keremeos Creek Wildfire is burning about 21 kilometres southwest of Penticton and is classified as out of control.
Twenty-five nearby properties are already on evacuation order.
“We were on a road trip. We just heard about it yesterday from our friends and next thing you know we had lots of messages pouring in,” Martens said. “So we zipped back home and here we are getting things organized to maybe head out again for another road trip.”
So far, only four families have registered with emergency officials with the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen -- and on Sunday, people were still trying to access the evacuation zone.
"I’m going to drive right through now,” said resident Mark Flood as he stood in front of a Road Closed sign. "I’m hoping that I don’t run into any resistance. I’m not staying there today. I’m just going to check my place out just to see what’s happening down there.”
Since being discovered on Friday, the Keremeos Creek fire has grown close to 500 hectares in size.
“I would expect that to grow in the coming days given the conditions that we’ve seen in the area,” said Jean Strong of the BC Wildfire Service. “It’s hot and dry and it’s quite steep terrain that can be difficult for our crews to access.”
An Incident Management Team has been assigned to the fire which is being attacked by eight helicopters and 29 front-line BC Wildfire Service personnel.
The area where it is burning is too steep for fixed-wing aircraft to fly effective missions.
Local fire departments including Keremeos, Naramata and Summerland have all sent crews and trucks to focus on protecting structures.
Apex Mountain Resort has deployed its snow cannons to spray water on its buildings and infrastructure in an effort to prevent them from catching fire from embers carried by the wind.
A total of 357 properties in that area remain on evacuation alert, with residents told to prepare to leave in a hurry should the fire continue creeping in their direction.
“We know that they’re getting nervous. It’s only three to four kilometres away from a really high-density area,” said Bill Newell, chief administrative officer of the regional district. “So, we are actively planning for an evacuation of Apex right now.”
At the moment, that is not considered neccessary but the situation could change quickly.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
India's foreign minister reacts to murder charges, claims Canada welcomes criminals
India's Foreign Affairs Minister accused Canada of welcoming criminals from his country in response to the RCMP's recent arrests in a homicide that has roiled tensions between the two countries.
15-year-old boy stabbed in Ottawa on Thursday dies
A 15-year old boy who was critically injured after a stabbing in Nepean on Thursday has died of his injuries, Ottawa's English public school board said Sunday.
Dash cam catches moment suspected drunk driver hits parked car, sends it careening into North Shore flower shop
Police say it’s fortunate no one was injured or killed in a collision at North Vancouver’s Park and Tilford shopping centre Saturday evening that sent one vehicle careening into a flower shop and another into a set of concrete barriers outside a Winners store.
Actor Bernard Hill, of 'Titanic' and 'Lord of the Rings,' has died at 79
Actor Bernard Hill, who delivered a rousing cry before leading his people into battle in 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King' and went down with the ship as the captain in 'Titanic,' has died.
'A tiny city:' Pro-Palestinian campus protesters organize for another week
Pro-Palestinian activists have set up tents at universities in Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver and Montreal, following a wave of similar protests at campuses in the United States linked to the Israel-Hamas war.
Lawsuit against Meta asks if Facebook users have right to control their feeds using external tools
Do social media users have the right to control what they see — or don't see — on their feeds?
A Holocaust survivor will mark that history differently after the horrors of Oct. 7
This year's Holocaust Remembrance Day, which begins on Sunday evening in Israel, carries a heavier weight than usual for many Jews around the world.
Princess Anne lays wreath at Battle of Atlantic ceremony; honours late Queen
Princess Anne saluted Canadian veterans and current forces members and honoured her late mother during separate ceremonies Sunday in Victoria as she wrapped up a three-day British Columbia West Coast royal visit.
El Nino weakening doesn't mean cooler temperatures this summer, forecasters say
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.