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(UPDATE: Aug. 22 @ 6:15 p.m.) - Cool Creek has not received any further updates from BCWS at this time with the exception of a small increase in personnel and equipment on site.
On Tuesday, there were 20 personnel and 14 units of heavy equipment attending the fire, which has been increased to 25 personnel and 19 pieces of heavy equipment on Wednesday
The fire remains out of control at approximately 6,900 hectares.
(Original Story)
The Cool Creek fire was discovered on August 15 and has since grown to just under 7,000 hectares.
Estimated at 6,900 hectares, the Cool Creek wildfire is located west of Keremeos and approximately 20 kilometres east-northeast of Eastgate.
BCWS reports the incident was the product of a holdover lightning strike — which is essentially the heat from a lightning strike nurtured in an area until it, ultimately, flares up.
It is burning in inaccessible terrain and exhibiting extreme fire behaviour. There is an evacuation alert in effect for the Cool Creek area and the Ashnola Forest Service road. For further information pertaining to the evacuation alert please visit the @EmergMgtRDOS (2/2).
— BC Wildfire Service (@BCGovFireInfo) August 18, 2018
Cool Creek's wildfire was initially measured at 100 hectares when it was detected on August 15 due to poor visibility but has grown rapidly in size.
BCWS initially responded with a limited initial response due to the fire's isolated location with no priority values at risk and no opportunity for heavy equipment deployment.
The steep terrain of the area has posed safety risks to firefighting personnel and remains inoperable in some areas of the fire.
Cool Creek did experience rapid growth on Thursday due to increased afternoon temperatures and decreased humidity that caused increased fire activity. It merged with two nearby fires the same day to develop into its current size.
There were 20 personnel and 14 pieces of heavy equipment as well as aviation resources assigned to the wildfire on Tuesday.
EOC Update: August 17, 2018 3:00 pm Evacuation Alert for Cool Creek Wildfire #BCwildfire https://t.co/9WklnyRa7X
— RDOS EOC (@EmergMgtRDOS) August 17, 2018
An Evacuation Alert has been issued to several areas surrounding the area including the Ashnola FSR, cattle ranch properties and camping areas, for more information visit the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen website.
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