UPDATE 9:09 a.m.
The Okanagan Indian Band, in recommendation of BC Wildfire Service, has expanded its evacuation alert.
The extension of affected properties includes the following areas: East of Six Mile Road, North of Westside Road to Mary Emeralds Bay Road. It also includes and is not limited to Royal Road, Marchand Road, Pebble Park Lane, Louis Road and all other properties that access off Westside Road within the mapped area.
This includes the following properties:
Properties along Bonneau Road;
Properties along Pebble Park Lane;
Properties along Louis Road;
Properties along Six Mile Road
#7
#11
#13
Properties along Marchand Road
#18
#29
Properties along Royal Road
#7
#15
Properties north of Westside Road
11454 Westside Road
11450 Westside Road
11452 Westside Road
11458 Westside Road
11486 Westside Road
11482 Westside Road
11282 Westside Road
11284 Westside Road
11298 Westside Road
11300 Westside Road
11304 Westside Road
11310 Westside Road
11310 Westside Road
11322 Westside Road
11324 Westside Road
11332 Westside Road
11385 Westside Road.
Everyone who lives at these residences need to be ready to leave at a moment’s notice.
UPDATE: AUG 1, 8:04 a.m.
The Wildfire burning off Westside Road near Vernon has grown overnight and is now approximately 100 hectares, according to BC Wildfire Service (BCWS).
Discovered Friday night on July 31, the fire is burning near the Okanagan Indian Band.
The Okanagan Indian Band issued an evacuation alert earlier in the day for a number of properties along Bonneau Road, Pebble Park Lane, Louis Road, properties along any roads north of Westside Road between Bonneau and Komasket Road.
The alert is also in place for Westside Road addresses 11454, 11450, 11452, 11458, 11486 and 11482.
More to come.
UPDATE: SATURDAY, AUG. 1, 6:42 A.M.:
The Okanagan Indian Band’s Emergency Operations Centre, based on BC Wildfire Service recommendation has issued an Evacuation Alert for the following properties:
* Properties along Bonneau Road
* Properties along Pebble Park Lane
* Properties along Louis Road
* Properties along any roads north of Westside Road between Bonneau Road and Komasket Road
* 11454 Westside Road
* 11450 Westside Road
* 11452 Westside Road
* 11458 Westside Road
* 11486 Westside Road
* 11482 Westside Road
This alert has been issued due to the Bradley Creek Wildfire (K41351). BC Wildfire Service
Additional information will be shared on OKIB.ca and OKIB Facebook page as it becomes available.
UPDATE: SATURDAY, AUG. 1, 6:07 A.M.:
The Okanagan Indian Band (OKIB) and BC Wildfire Services (BCWS)crews are battling a wildfire off Westside Road.
The Bradley Creek Fire (K41351) broke out Friday evening, July 31, and is listed Saturday, Aug. 1, as 10 hectares in size and classified as under control on the BCWS website.
Out of control is defined as a a wildfire spreading or anticipated to spread beyond the current perimeter or control line.
OKIB has been providing updates to its members on social media.
Shortly before 3 a.m. Saturday, the band said its Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) has been activated at Level 1 to support situational awareness, coordinator, and ongoing monitoring of the incident.
The band reiterated in its last post that, at this time, no homes or other structures are threatened.
Community members are asked to avoid the area, and allow emergency personnel to safely carry out their work.
More details, said the band, will be provided as they become available.
ORIGINAL STORY
A 10-hectare wildfire is burning north of Westside Road in the Bradley Creek area.
The blaze was first reported on July 31, however, the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) updated information regarding the incident at 2 a.m. Aug. 1.
The out-of-control wildfire is expected to spread beyond the current perimeter and is believed to be human-caused.
On Friday, BCWS warned that weather conditions over the long weekend could increase the hazard of wildfires and lead to challenging conditions for those fighting them.
A cold front is forecast to move across much of the province this weekend, bringing thunderstorms and strong, gusty winds. By the time this activity reaches the Southern Interior, it will come with little or no rainfall.
Due to hot and dry conditions and continued drought, fuels are increasingly susceptible, and it is likely that new lightning-caused wildfires may result.
More to come.