A planned massive burn for White Rock Lake gunpowder has been delayed.
On Saturday, the BC Wildfire Service said that due to recent rainfall in the Six Mile Creek area, conditions are not favorable for igniting the 3,000-acre burn.
BC Wildfire did not have an exact amount of the amount of rain that fell, but said it was generally light, ranging from one to five millimeters. In the south, the Fintry area received five millimeters of rain on Friday afternoon.
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The fire is estimated at 81,362 acres and is classified as out of control.
On Monday, BC Wildfire announced that it planned large-scale ignition along the northeast flank of the flame and that the resulting smoke would be highly visible from communities in the area.
At the time, BC Wildfire said the ignition could occur as early as Wednesday, weather permitting. However, the rain has fallen intermittently throughout the week, which delays the ignition.
Still, on Saturday, BC Wildfire told Global News that since Friday’s rain was mild, it was expected to dry quickly.
BC Wildfire said a 350-acre ignition that took place on Tuesday successfully brought the edge of the fire to practicable terrain along the northeast flank.
“Planned ignition operations are critical to achieving containment in areas where the perimeter of the fire is inoperable and unsafe for ground and heavy equipment to operate,” BC Wildfire said in its latest fire update.
“The ignition was critical to securing the area east of the planned large-scale ignition that will occur next week.”
He also said Wednesday’s planned ignitions secured the perimeter of the fire that was burning north of Terrace Mountain. Overhead fires removed approximately 600 acres of fuel between the edge of the fire and the pre-established control line.
In addition, BC Wildfire claims that 60 Canadian Armed Forces troops are arriving and another 60 will arrive on Sunday to help patrol along the west and north flanks of the fire.
Okanagan Center Emergency Operations (CORE) says conditions remain unchanged for the fire and evacuation alerts and orders for communities in the northwestern Okanagan Central Regional District remain in effect. .
At the scene of the blaze are 281 firefighters, 92 structural protection firefighters and seven hazard tree advisors, along with 14 helicopters and 40 heavy equipment.
“North Westside Fire Rescue continues to support all external agencies, including tree assessments, RDCO water engineering and pet and animal support,” added fire chief Alex Van Bruksvoort.
“The men and women of the field continue their dedicated work, even throughout the night, looking for and extinguishing hot spots.”
Van Bruksvoort thanked the residents for their patience “as we work hard to safeguard North Westside neighborhoods so residents can return home.”
You can find more information about the fire on the BC Wildfire website.
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