Skip to content

UPDATE: Osoyoos’ Eagle Bluff wildfire now more than 7,000 hectares

The area has a 30 per cent of rain on Saturday afternoon
web1_230801-rda-canada-wildfires_1
BC Wildfire Services continue to battle the Eagle Bluff Wildfire in Osoyoos. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Melissa Genberg)

UPDATE 1 p.m.

New mapping by BC Wildfire Services now shows the Eagle Bluff wildfire is 7,060 hectares in size.

Additonally, in the Kilpoola Area, Electoral Area “A”, residents are experiencing Telus service outages to their 911 Landline, Internet, Home Phone, and Optik/PIK TV. However Telus mobility services are not affected. Crews are working to restore provider services.

Original

The Eagle Bluff wildfire in Osoyoos continues to burn.

BC Wildfire Services hasn’t provided an update as of 7:30 a.m. Saturday morning but crews could be receiving some help this afternoon.

According to Environment Canada, Osoyoos is forecasted to be sunny, cloudy and reach 33 degrees on Saturday. Winds are expected throughout the day at 20 km/h and could gust up to 40 km/h. But in the afternoon, there is a 30 per cent chance of showers in the area, and no forecast of thunder or lightning for Aug. 5.

The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS) reminds people on evacuation order must leave immediately until they are told and people on evacuation alert have to be ready in case the situation changes.

The City of Osoyoos is not on evacuation alert right now but that could change at a moment’s notice. All evacuation alerts and orders can be found on the RDOS website.

Because of the smoke from the wildfire, Environment Canada continues to have a special air quality statement in effect for the entirety of the Okanagan. Elders, children, people with lung problems and/or heart disease, pregnant people and people who work outside are at a higher risk of experiencing effects from smoke.

The blaze remains out of control and is approximately 3,044 hectares in size. It is one of 358 active wildfires and one of 12 wildfires of note across the province. The cause remains unknown and is being investigated. It started in the United States and cross over the border on Saturday, July 29.

READ MORE: How well do you know British Columbia?

READ MORE: Hot weather, swirling winds leading to increased wildfire activity outside Kamloops


@cunninghamjordy
jordy.cunningham@kelownacapnews.com

Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and subscribe to our daily and subscribe to our daily newsletter.



Jordy Cunningham

About the Author: Jordy Cunningham

Hailing from Ladner, B.C., I have been passionate about sports, especially baseball, since I was young. In 2018, I graduated from Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops with a Bachelor of Journalism degree
Read more