Everybody home in five areas where wildfires being contained

Posted on July 24, 2014 in City, Wildfires // 0 Comments

NEWS/ WILDFIRES — After a week of major fires throughout the Kamloops Fire Centre, residents affected by five of them have been allowed to go home.

The Smith Creek, Apex, Botanie, Maka-Murray and Jura wildfires had prompted evacuation alerts and orders but firefighters have managed to increase containment on all of them, the fire centre said today.

(Wildfire Branch)

Here are the updates on current major fires within the Kamloops Fire Centre:

Apex fire, 10 km west of Penticton: Estimated at 345 hectares, this wildfire is now 100 per cent contained. Crews are currently conducting mop-up activities, such as extinguishing hot spots and reducing the amount of smoke produced by the fire. The evacuation alert issued by the Regional District of the Okanagan Similkameen has been lifted.

Jura fire, Southwest of Missezula Lake: After sustained efforts by the Wildfire Management Branch, this wildfire is now 90 per cent contained and is roughly 390 hectares in size. The Regional District of the Okanagan Similkameen has rescinded the evacuation alert for residents in the area.

Maka-Murray fire, five km west of the Juliet exit on the Coquihalla Highway: Now 45 per cent contained and is estimated at 340 hectares. The Thompson-Nicola Regional District has lifted its evacuation order and evacuation alert for about 30 properties.

Smith Creek fire, three km northwest of downtown West Kelowna: Mapped at roughly 280 hectares and is 100-per-cent contained. As firefighting resources continue to work on this fire, the Central Okanagan Regional District has lifted its evacuation orders. However, an evacuation alert remains in place.

Botanie Road fire, North of Lytton: 1,389 hectares and 50 per cent contained. Significant rainfall over the past 24 hours has helped firefighters extinguish hotspots. The Thompson-Nicola Regional District has rescinded its evacuation orders for residents affected by this fire, but an evacuation alert remains in place.

Four of the wildfires are suspected to be human-caused.