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(UPDATE: August 8 @ 9:50 p.m.) - The Placer Mountain wildfire has not experienced any change since Tuesday's recording.
There were 113 firefighters and 3 units of heavy equipment on site Wednesday.
(UPDATE: August 7 @ 9 p.m.) - Areas around the Placer Mountain wildfire received good news on Tuesday as the wildfire is now considered being held by BCWS and they are not anticipating any further growth from the fire.
BCWS reports that crew have made significant progress on the fire and have continued to patrol and mop up the area throughout Tuesday.
The fire remains 90% contained at 2,372 hectares.
The Cathedral Provincial Park, including the Cathedral Lake Lodge, remains closed.
(UPDATE: August 6 @ 7:40 p.m.) - The Placer Mountain wildfire is burning in the same reported 2,372-hectare area as it was on Sunday and crews will continue to mop up and patrol the area.
The wildfire remains 90% contained but crews are facing a challenging battle on the steep terrain with the presence of rattlesnakes in some areas.
On-site at the Placer Mountain fire are 70 firefighters, 18 units of heavy equipment and 11 helicopters which are currently being cycled between the Placer Mountain and Snowy Mountain wildfires to aid in suppression efforts.
Crews were able to conduct controlled burning operation on the southeast corner of the fire and are hoping to carry out further burns in the same area to remove further fuels.
Evacuation Orders remain in place for Cathedral Lake Lodge.
(UPDATE: August 5 @ 12:30 p.m.) - The BC Wildfire Service says that the Placer Mountain wildfire burning near Princeton is now 90% contained.
It is estimated at 2,372.0 hectares in size. Crews have made significant progress on the fire and are holding the perimeter and conducting mop-up.
If conditions remain ideal today, firefighters will carry out a burn operation in order to remove remaining fuels from the southeast corner. Helicopters will be available to support ground crews during burn operations. In addition, crews will patrol and extinguish hot spots on the east and west flank.
(UPDATE: August 4 @ 10 a.m.) - Crews are continuing to make progress on the Placer Mountain wildfire.
As of now, the fire is considered to be 80% contained.
Although conditions have been warm and dry, the fire has not seen any substantial growth.
According to BC Wildfire Service, the fire is considered to be a complex fire and is sharing resources with the Snowy Mountain fire.
Because of this, the 90 firefighters on scene today could be sent to the Snowy Mountian fire if need be.
Crews will continue securing the perimeter through mop-ups. During these mop ups, personnel will go into the fire about 100 feet from the control line to extinguish any remaining hot spots and conduct small scale burns that could be reignited.
(UPDATE: August 3 @ 2:40 p.m.) - Fire crews have managed to make progress following the significant fire growth on Placer Mountain.
Some active fire behaviour occurred on the northwest corner of the fire yesterday however, helicopters and ground crews were able to respond quickly and suppress the fire.
According to BC wildfire Service, the fire remains at 2,336 hectares and is 50% contained.
Crews are now focused on holding the perimeter and conducting mop-ups. Personnel will continue to work on burning off fuels from the fire path along the south if conditions allow it.
Temperatures are anticipated to be slightly cooler for the next couple of days with winds reaching 15 to 25 kilometres an hour.
As of today, there are 77 firefighters, nine helicopters and 14 pieces of heavy equipment on scene.
(UPDATE: August 1 @ 7 p.m.) - The Placer Mountain wildfire is estimated at 2,336 hectares in size this afternoon. Earlier today it was estimated at 1,521 hectares.
The BC Wildfire Service says that the fire saw growth to the north and west yesterday due to strong winds.
Ground crews are continuing to mop up in secured areas, and will continue building a fuel free line in the south from the Ashnola River along a scree slope, while personnel work to mop up along the east flank where crews successfully conducted burn offs to remove remaining fuel to reinforce the perimeter.
“Winds are blowing from the west today, which is serving to push the fire back on itself a bit and into previously burned areas,” says the BC Wildfire Service.
The evacuation order for Cathedral Lakes Lodge remains in place.
(UPDATE: August 1 @ 12:15 p.m.) - An evacuation order has been put in place for Cathedral Lakes Lodge, located in Cathedral Provincial Park.
The lodge was placed under an evacuation order Wednesday morning as the Placer Mountain wildfire poses a heightened risk to human safety due to potential loss of road access to the lodge, said the RDOS in a news release.
The fire didn't see much growth overnight and is still estimated at 1,521 hectares in size, with 116 firefighters, 14 pieces of heavy equipment and nine helicopters assisting in suppression efforts.
BC Parks has also closed the entire Cathedral Provincial Park and Protected Area for hiking.
All guests and hikers within Cathedral Provincial Park are asked to leave the Cathedral Provincial Park area immediately.
The Ashnola Forest Service Road remains closed by the Province of BC past the 25 kilometre marker.
The evacuation order does not affect additional areas along the Ashnola Forest Service Road, including the Cathedral Lakes Lodge base camp parking area, recreation sites before the 25 km marker, homes near Ewart Creek Road and access to Crater Mountain.
(UPDATE: July 31 @ 2:15 p.m.) - Much like the Snowy Mountain wildfire, the Placer Mountain wildfire grew by nearly 50% between Monday and Tuesday.
The fire was previously measured at an estimated 1,017 hectares, a number that has grown to 1,521 hectares
Crews did not perform any controlled ignitions on Monday and all the growth was natural, on the southwest flank of the fire.
That side of the fire isn't a priority for crews today, however.
"Crews are continuing to mop up after a planned ignition conducted on July 29, 2018, along the northeast of the fire," reads the latest update from BC Wildfire. "A crew will continue building a fuel free line in the south from the Ashnola River along a scree slope."
There are 79 firefighters, 14 pieces of heavy equipment and eight helicopters currently allocated to this blaze.
(UPDATE: July 30 @ 9:22 p.m.) - No new information is available for Placer Mountain wildfire.
(UPDATE: July 30 @ 11:35 a.m.) - The Placer Mountain wildfire remains at 1,017 hectares after a planned ignition on Sunday.
There are 98 firefighters, eight helicopters, five water tenders and seven pieces of heavy equipment battling the blaze.
Today, crews are working on mopping up the aforementioned planned ignition with a six-metre blackline along the northeast section of the fire.
Crews are also continuing work on a fuel free line in the south from the Ashnola River along a scree slope.
A crew has also been sent to Cathedral Lakes Lodge to further bolster the lodge's existing structural protection.
The fire, located about 37 kilometres south of Priceton, is still considered out of control.
There are evacuation alerts in place, which you can learn about on the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen website.
(UPDATE: July 29 @ 9:40 p.m.) - The Placer Mountain wildfire remains at 1,017 hectares.
The scheduled burn plan was finalized and planned ignition carried out.
BCWFS crews will complete two helipads — one north of McBride Creek and another to the south — and are actively locating, inspecting and marking the location of existing helipads in the area.
Firefighters will continue to mop-up and patrol the fire from the northern flank moving eastward.
(UPDATE: July 29 @ 12 p.m.) - The Placer Mountain wildfire is now estimated at 1, 017 hectares in size.
Yesterday the fire was mapped at 828 hectares.
An area restriction has been put in place, effective Tuesday at noon, in order to protect the public and the firefighting personnel.
Today there are 98 firefighters, six helicopters, five water tenders, and seven pieces of heavy equipment on scene.
On the east flank of the fire, crews will be completing the construction of guard moving south to join machine guard that is progressing northward. BC Wildfire Service says that a burn plan has been finalized and, depending on fire behaviour and weather conditions, will be conducted mid-day.
"The ignitions specialist can delay or cancel this activity at any time should conditions be determined unfavourable," says the BC Wildfire Service.
An evacuation alert is in place for Cathedral Lakes Lodge. Structures are being assessed in the area and work is being completed as needed by a structural protection team.
(UPDATE: July 27 @ 10:17 p.m.) - An area restriction has been implemented for Placer Lake to "protect public safety and the safety of firefighting personnel," reads a BC Wildfire news release.
The restriction is effective as of Tuesday at noon and will encompass Crown land in the vicinity of Placer Lake. The restriction will remain until September 15, 2018, or until the order is otherwise rescinded.
Area restriction in place for Placer Lake #BCwildfire, effective tomorrow at noon: https://t.co/hyxL4voH8A pic.twitter.com/3U7xcNunq7
— BC Wildfire Service (@BCGovFireInfo) July 28, 2018
Residents may only enter the restricted area with written authorization from an official unless they are travelling to their residence (unless it is under evacuation order), travelling to a leased property (not under evacuation order), travelling as a person acting in an official capacity or for the purpose of supporting wildfire suppression activities.
(UPDATE: July 27 @ 8:53 p.m.) - Just under 100 firefighters were attending to the Placer Mountain fire on Monday, which has grown to 828 hectares.
BC Wildfire Service reported Monday evening that they were in the middle of conducting a planned ignition on the Placer Mountain wildfire.
"This operation is performed by a certified Ignitions Specialist who can call of the operation at any time he deems it unsafe to perform," tweeted BC Wildfire Service.
(1/2) We're currently conducting a planned ignition on the Placer Mountain #BCwildfire to solidify defendable ground. Airtankers were used to help create a guard at the crest of a hill, then Plastic Spherical Devices were dropped by helicopter to provide ignition along the line. pic.twitter.com/AkmM0TRst5
— BC Wildfire Service (@BCGovFireInfo) July 28, 2018
The action is intended to produce defendable ground for firefighters to operate from.
There were 99 firefighters, seven helicopters and 12 units of heavy equipment on site actioning the fire Monday. The fire remains out of control.
(UPDATE: July 25 @ 12:10 p.m.) - The Placer Mountain wildfire, about 37 kilometres south of Princeton, has shown some growth.
It's now an estimated 520 hectares and is still listed as out of control
With 22 firefighters, four helicopters and eight pieces of heavy equipment on site, the objective today is to continue establishing wet lines along hose trails.
"Bucketing is being carried out in areas where the fire is burning aggressively," reads the latest update from BC Wildfire. "Danger tree assessing and danger tree falling is ongoing."
"The fire has crossed McBride Creek and is progressing upslope into the old Diamond (Creek) Fire of 2017."
There are no evacuation orders or alerts in place for this fire.
(UPDATE: July 24 @ 9:35p.m.) - The Placer Mountain Fire has not grown in size but is still being actioned.
22 firefighters and four helicopters remain on scene with seven pieces of heavy equipment with bucketing being focused on areas where the fire is burning at Rank 3.
The fire has been confirmed to have crossed McBride Creek and is progressing upwards toward the Diamond Fire that burned in 2017.
Crews continue to establish a three-metre wet line around the fire perimeter while also conducting danger tree assessments and danger tree felling. A dozer line is being completed in the East gully.
(UPDATE: July 23 @ 10:50 p.m.) - BC Wildfire Service enlisted 22 firefighters, four helicopters and eight pieces of heavy equipment and industry personnel to the expanded Placer Mountain Fire on Monday.
The Placer Mountain Fire is currently measuring 434 hectares in size.
Fire crews are in the process of constructing a wet line around the perimeter of the fire from the north end eastward. In coordination with the wet line, planned ignitions are being used, when possible, to solidify the containment line.
BCWFS is also developing plans for controlled burns along the south and east fire flanks.
No evacuation orders or alerts are currently in place for this fire.
(UPDATE: July 22 @ 10:19 a.m.) - The Placer Mountain wildfire, 37 km south of Princeton, remains at about the same size of 320 hectares.
The BC Wildfire Service is responding today with 18 firefighters, 3 helicopters, 7 pieces of heavy equipment and industry personnel.
Additional crews are arriving today and will be assigned as needed to the Placer Mountain fire. Crews will also be attending any spot fires which may flare up.
There is 0% containment at this fire, and crews will be constructing fire guard on the fire’s north flank. They will also be assessing the east and south flanks to establish machine guard. These operations will determine opportunities for controlled burning.
(UPDATE: July 21 @ 3:10 p.m.) - The Placer Mountain wildfire, which is burning 37 km south of Princeton, is estimated at 320 hectares this afternoon.
The BC Wildfire Service says that containment figures are not yet available for this fire. Fire mapping and assessments are in progress.
The BC Wildfire Service is responding today with 18 firefighters, 3 helicopters, 8 pieces of heavy equipment and industry personnel. An Incident Management Team has been assigned to this fire as well as other smaller lightning caused fires.
(UPDATE: July 21 @ 9 a.m.) - The Placer Mountain wildfire, 37 km south of Princeton, is now estimated at 255 hectares in size.
As of today, BC Wildfire Service says containment figures have not been determined. Fire mapping and assessments are in progress.
There are 18 firefighters, three helicopters, eight pieces of heavy equipment on scene. An Incident Management Team has been assigned to this fire as well as other smaller lightning caused fires.
(Original Story)
The BC Wildfire Service is reporting a large wildfire burning near Cathedral Provincial Park.
Originally estimated at 50 hectares, the Placer Mountain wildfire is now an estimated 150 hectares in size and classified as out of control.
Two helicopters and 19 wildfire personnel are managing the fire, but the blaze is not affecting any structures at this time.
The fire is believed to have been caused by lightning.
NowMedia will update this story as more information becomes available.
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