SUNDAY UPDATE: Winds whip up activity on White Rock Lake Fire

White Rock Lake wildfire (Photo credit: BC Wildfire Service)

Aug 13, 2021 | 10:25 AM Pete McIntyre

UPDATE 3 p.m. from BC Wildfire Service

Air tankers have been working since 11 a.m. on the southeast corner of the fire north of Fintry to lower fire behaviour and limit any growth. They are supporting a 2 km stretch of guard adjacent to structures.

Skimmers have been cooling the fire behind structures.

Rank 3 and 4 activity is being observed on the northeast and southeast flanks of the fire.

The Township of Spallumcheen issued an evacuation order for a number of properties that had been on evacuation alert at 5:20 p.m. Sunday.

Summary Update: Overnight, there was no major growth on the fire. The fire has not crossed any control lines north of highway 97 in the Monte Lake / Paxton Valley area or along the northeast flank all the way south past the major powerline corridor near Ingram.

The fire will most likely be very active north of Naswhito Creek, today. There was an increase in size along the south flank, north of the Fintry Protected Area.

The fire is about 1.5KM north of the Fintry Protected Area at its closest point and 3.5KM northwest of Fintry Park at its closest point.

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UPDATE 11:00 a.m. from BC Wildfire Service

Air tankers are currently working on the southeast corner of the fire north of Fintry to lower fire behaviour and limit any growth.

They are supporting a 2 km stretch of guard adjacent to structures.

Structures are not currently threatened.

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UPDATE: 8:45 a.m. Aug. 15

The latest size estimate on the White Rock Lake wildfire indicates it has grown more than 4,000 hectares.

The BC Wildfire Service lists the size as 62,273 as of 8:00 a.m. Sunday, up from the 58,000 estimate since Friday, in the latest update on the massive fire that started more than a month ago on July 13.

Here is the latest update from the Wildfire Service:

Due to smoke and limited visibility yesterday, this is the most accurate track to date. There will most likely be an increase in size along the south perimeter north of the Fintry Protected Area once new perimeter tracks are sent in today from the field. White Rock Lake Wildfire Perimeter Map – August 14, 2021 as of 3:40PM.

Aug. 15 08:00 Summary Update: Overnight, there was no major growth on the fire. The fire has not crossed any control lines north of Highway 97 in the Monte Lake / Paxton Valley area or along the northeast flank all the way south past the major powerline corridor near Ingram. The fire will most likely be very active north of Naswhito creek, today. There was an increase in size along the south flank, north of the Fintry Protected Area. The fire is about 1.5KM north of the Fintry Protected Area at its closest point and 3.5KM northwest of Fintry Park at its closest point.

Today, the ridge is expected to breakdown with strong gusting winds, up to 60km/h, from the south to southwest expected. There will most likely be a significant increase in fire activity today starting in the afternoon. Heavy equipment, ground crews, and helicopters are strategically positioned to priority areas on the fire that are expected to be the most challenging along the north, northeast, and east flanks.

It is less smoky this morning in the Vernon area after a very smoky Saturday that saw falling ash and smoke coming from the White Rock Lake and Tremont  Creek (near Logan Lake) fires.

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UPDATE from BC Wildfire Service 5:00 p.m. Dense smoke and ash in Vernon area from increased activity on White Rock Lake Fire

Ash and dense smoke in the Vernon area is due to increased fire behaviour on the south flank. It is not progressing south or east at any significant rate of spread, but fuels along the south flank are being consumed at a moderate rate.

Summary Update: Widespread smoke continues to ground most air resources, today. There are a few heavy helicopters working where visibility allows to support crews with bucket drops.

Despite this impact to aerial operations, the smoke and haze has reduced fire behaviour across most of the fire. Westerly winds are contributing to some increased fire behaviour along the south flank, however, it is not growing at a fast rate of spread south. Smoke from the Tremont Creek fire is also being pushed over the White Rock Lake fire area.

On Sunday, the ridge is expected to breakdown with strong gusting winds from the south to southwest expected. There will most likely be a significant increase in fire activity Saturday / Sunday with the forecast weather. Heavy equipment and crews are being moved to priority areas on the fire that are expected to be the most challenging along the north, northeast, and east flanks.

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UPDATE 9:00 a.m. Aug. 14 Lower fire behaviour on White Rock Lake Fire Friday; controlled burn-offs continue; travel ban for tourists  

The BC Wildfire Service says smoke limited visibility Friday on the White Rock Lake wildfire, meaning helicopters were grounded for most of the day.

“As a result, ignition operations were mainly completed on the ground by hand. Despite this impact to aerial operations, the smoke and haze resulted in lower fire behaviour on site. Ground crews were able to successfully continue to mop up from Thursday’s planned ignitions on the northern flank of the fire,” the BCWS said on its website.

Meantime, Public safety minister Mike Farnworth said Friday afternoon, the government is asking tourists not to travel to places like Armstrong, Spallumcheen, the Okanagan Indian Band, Enderby and parts of the Regional District of North Okanagan, until further notice.

“We are taking this proactive step because the safety of people and communities is paramount. We want to make sure people in these communities will be able to evacuate, if necessary, access the supports they need as well as the safety of our firefighters on the ground. We also want to make sure that evacuees have a safe place to stay if they are forced from their homes, preferably in the region where they usually reside,” Farnworth said.

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UPDATE: 3:30 p.m. White Rock Lake Fire expected to show increased activity this weekend; travel warning in effect

You may be seeing more smoke from the White Rock Lake wildfire this afternoon.

Air and ground crews are conducting ignitions along the east flank in the Westside Road area from Naswhito Creek to Whiteman Creek, if conditions allow,  to reduce fuel for the fire to burn.

The BC Wildfire Service is concerned about gusty winds in the weekend forecast.

“Ground crews will use hand ignitions to support and tie in with the aerial ignitions done from a helicopter to reduce the amount of available fuel for the fire to burn and create safer and easier access for ground crews. A smoke column may become visible in the area if general smoke and haze clear,” said the BCWS on its website.

The Service says there will likely be a significant increase in fire activity Saturday and Sunday with the forecast weather.

“Heavy equipment and crews are being moved to priority areas on the fire that are expected to be the most challenging along the north, northeast, and east flanks,” the BCWS said.

The fire size is still estimated at 58,000 hectares, same as on Thursday.

Meantime, Public safety minister Mike Farnworth said Friday afternoon, the government is asking tourists not to travel to places like Armstrong, Spallumcheen, the Okanagan Indian Band, Enderby and parts of the Regional District of North Okanagan, until further notice.

“We are taking this proactive step because the safety of people and communities is paramount. We want to make sure people in these communities will be able to evacuate, if necessary, access the supports they need as well as the safety of our firefighters on the ground. We also want to make sure that evacuees have a safe place to stay if they are forced from their homes, preferably in the region where they usually reside,” Farnworth said.

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White Rock Lake Fire expected to show Rank 2-4 behaviour with more smoke Aug. 13, 2021

The BC Wildfire Service is expecting increased activity and smoke from the White Rock Lake wildfire today, and over the weekend.

The service says the fire is burning in heavy timber along Naswhito Creek in the Westside Road area and producing significant smoke, and with the winds forecast to switch to east/northeast today, fire behaviour will most likely increase along the entire eastern and northeastern flank.

The Wildfire Service says Rank 2 – 4 fire behaviour (on scale of 1-6) is expected today.

“On Sunday, the ridge of high pressure is expected to breakdown with strong gusting winds from the southeast expected. There will most likely be a significant increase in fire activity Saturday / Sunday with the forecast weather. Heavy equipment and crews are being moved to priority areas on the fire that are expected to be the most challenging along the north, northeast, and east flanks,” said the BCWS in its update Friday morning.

The fire size is estimated at 58,000 hectares, which is the same as Thursday, and is still classified as out of control.

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