Photo: Chelsey Mutter
The Hullcar Mountain wildfire burns below BC Hydro lines on Aug. 7, 2024.
UPDATE 8:35 p.m.
A small-scale planned ignition on the Hullcar Mountain wildfire had to be put on pause Friday, due to the thunderstorms passing through that brought a change in wind direction and weather.
BC Wildfire Service Wildfire Officer Darcy MacLeod gave an update on the wildfire burning west of Enderby on Friday evening.
"Today there was a proposed, planned ignition. It did not occur because of the thunderstorms that were passing by this fire. Those thunderstorms brought changing wind directions that weren't predictable and weren't favourable for success of the burn," he said.
"So we put it on hold for the future, so the planned ignition will only occur if conditions on site are favourable and the weather is behaving in a predictable fashion."
The ignition operation could go ahead over the coming days if site and weather conditions are appropriate to do so. It would be conducted by hand and approximately 40 hectares in size.
BCWS explained that the intent of this planned ignition is to bring the active fire perimeter to already established control lines, under fire behaviour conditions that are more suitable for efficient and effective fire suppression efforts.
Smoke and increased fire activity may be visible from communities of Armstrong and Enderby as well as travellers along Highway 97 and 97A when the ignition goes ahead.
Progress is being made mopping up along the west flank of the fire near Haines Creek South FSR and along the south flank of the fire on the 716 hectare-sized fire.
"Crews are working on building control lines around the north side of the fire with heavy equipment," MacLeod said.
"Over the weekend, crews are going to be working 24 hours a day to make sure that areas where the fire has burnt to control lines are holding. They're going to be using hose and water to put the fire edge out, and they'll be strengthening control lines."
There are 70 firefighters actioning the fire and structure protection crews in the area, along with 12 pieces of heavy equipment provided by local logging contractors over the weekend and four helicopters responding.
"Over the weekend, weather-wise, we're expecting similar to what we've had today. We're going to see thunderstorms passing by. We're going to see slightly cooler weather, increased relative humidity. So, currently, there is a command structure set up to support this incident, we're running it in conjunction with the Vernon fire zone, supporting them with logistics and aircraft," MacLeod said.
Fire activity on Friday was observed at mostly rank 1 and 2, which means a low vigour surface fire, with some pockets of rank 3 on slopes in the late afternoon, which displays as a moderate vigorous surface fire.
UPDATE 6:55 p.m.
BC Wildfire Service said their plans for a small-scale planned ignition on the Hullcar Mountain wildfire did not go ahead on Friday, due to unfavourable weather conditions.
A further update on the wildfire is expected later this evening
UPDATE 1:40 p.m.
BC Wildfire Service will be conducting small-scale hand ignitions at the Hullcar Mountain wildfire burning west of Enderby.
The planned ignitions are to clean up the guard edge of the northeast fire area, along Deep Creek Forest Service Road.
“This will help to bring the active fire perimeter to already established control lines, under fire behaviour conditions that are more suitable for efficient and effective fire suppression efforts,” reads a BCWS update.
Residents in Armstrong and Enderby may notice visible smoke.
The wildfire is now mapped at 716 hectares in size.
Heavy equipment will continue to work on tight lining and establishing guard along the south and west flanks of the fire. Crews have made good progress in establishing lines around the fire.
The fire continues to burn mostly at rank 1 and 2, meaning a low vigour surface fire, with some pockets of rank 3, moderate vigour fire, on slopes.
A severe thunderstorm warning is currently in effect for the North Okanagan. The Columbia Shuswap regional District is advising people on evacuation alerts to remain vigilant amid the warning.
The CSRD also says the SilverCreek and Ranchero fire departments are on standby to assist if need be.
BCWS says most of the fire activity Thursday was along the southwest corner of the fire, in a pocket of timber that remained within the guard.
ORIGINAL 6:24 a.m.
The Hullcar Mountain wildfire, west of Enderby, continues to be listed at 700 hectares.
No growth was reported yesterday.
The BC Wildfire Service said it was a quiet day Thursday along the western flank of the fire. That allowed crews to continue to make good progress on hand guards along that portion of the fire.
"Heavy equipment continued to work on establishing guard along the north and east flanks of the fire, tying into the top of the Slack Creek drainage," said fire information officer Taylor Wallace.
Crews and structural protection resources were set to work the fire overnight.
The Columbia Shuswap Regional District has implemented temporary access permits for people to enter evacuation order areas..
Permits will be valid for two hours from the time of entry to exit to an approved location. Permits are provided to allow access to the evacuation order area to address the following:
- Critical Infrastructure or utility agencies may require access in order to service (ie. refuel, inspect) or make repairs to affected critical equipment and sites;
- Members of the agriculture sector may need to make essential repairs to fencing, evacuate or check on livestock condition and care as required;
- Community members may request access so they can retrieve important medication, or tend to their domestic animals.
- Permits are not required for alert areas.
The public is reminded that portions of Salmon River Road and Deep Creek Road remain closed.
Evacuation orders and alerts are in place for portions of the Columbia Shuswap Regional District, Township of Spallumcheen, Okanagan Indian Band and Splatsin First Nation.
The Hullcar Mountain wildfire remains a wildfire of note. While the fire was burning below BC Hydro transmission lines, the utility said earlier this week it was monitoring the situation and its lines were safe, for the time being.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
