Richter Mountain wildfire: No significant overnight growth, blaze estimated at 50-60 hectares
Global News
The BC Wildfire Service says the fire, which is burning around 17 km due west of Osoyoos, didn’t experience any significant overnight growth.
A South Okanagan wildfire that started along a highway early Friday has not grown significantly.
Located around 17 km west of Osoyoos, and 3.5 km north of the U.S. border, the Richter Mountain wildfire grew to an estimated 40 hectares on Friday.
On Saturday, the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) said the blaze — believed to have been sparked by a vehicle fire — was at 50 to 60 hectares.
“It’s a smaller fire at this point, so it’s going to sit in between those two sizes,” BCWS fire information officer Forrest Tower told Global News, adding it didn’t experience any significant overnight growth.
Tower said after starting along Highway 3, the blaze moved upslope into some rocky areas. Airtankers actioned the fire in the afternoon, with helicopters also bucketing water most of the day.
On Friday morning, the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen issued an evacuation alert for 29 properties in the area, but rescinded it hours later at 4:30 p.m.
Around 40 firefighters are on scene, and more helicopter action is expected for Saturday.
“If we’re able to keep away from any strong winds, it’s looking like containment on that (fire) is achievable in the next little bit,” said Tower.
