Evacuations and road closures near Rock Creek
By Boundary Sentinel
Update (11:01 p.m.): New highway closures include Hwy 33 closed in both directions from Rock Creek to Beaverdell. Hwy 3 is closed in both directions from Nine Mile Pit to Midway and Hwy 3 is closed from 14 km east of Osoyoos (Anarchist Rest Mtn rest area) west to Rock Creek.
Update (10:35 p.m.): A forest fire that started around Rock Creek this afternoon is now estimated to be 800 hectares (1976.8 acres) and 270 homes have been evacuated so far, according to the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary (RDKB). Another 200 people were evacuated from the Kettle River Provincial Campground earlier this afternoon.
Firefighters have been working hard to manage this fire even though it is still listed as being zero per cent contained. An initial 36 Wildfire Service firefighters worked with the Midway Fire Department in the afternoon to combat the forest fire.
Another 40 BC Wildfire Service personnel joined the team this evening and tonight a 20-person sustained action crew will be on-site for structure protection. Tomorrow, a type 1 incident management team will be in Rock Creek.
The cause of this fire remains unknown but the area has a fire danger rating of “extreme. Wind, high temperatures and low humidity have fueled the fire.
Update (8:30 p.m.): The evacuation now includes Rock Creek to Westbridge as well as the Hwy. 33 corridor from Rock Creek to the south end of Blythe-Rhone Road. Residents are can call 250-368-9127 for more information.
Update (8 p.m.): The Southeast Fire Centre says the cause is “under investigation” and the fire is at 303.4 hectares (750 acres)
Original: A wildfire started at approximately 1:00 p.m. northwest of Rock Creek today. The fire spread quickly and the immediate area by Hulme Creek Road was evacuated.
The fire spread rapidly north forcing people in the Kettle River Provincial Park to evacuate on foot.
Residents on Christian Valley Road to Fiva Creek were evacuated. Evacuees are directed north, up the Christian Valley Road to Lumby.
Evacuees from Rock Creek to Westbridge are being directed to Willow Park Church in Kelowna on Hwy 33 .
Livestock is being received at the Rock Creek Fairgrounds.
According to the Southeast Fire Centre’s website, the fire is estimated to be 350 hectares (864.9 acres) and is believed to be human-started.
Hwy 33 is closed between Rock Creek and McColloch Road and Hwy 3 is closed 2 km West of Rock Creek. The highways are closed in both directions until further notice.
The Southeast Fire centre’s webpages says that 32 firefighters, six helicopters, three heavy equipment and two airtankers are being used to fight this fire with more on the way.
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