Fire Burning in South Okanagan Grows to Nearly 600 Hectares

Although one fire in the South Okanagan has been kept at bay, the fire burning at Newby Lake has more than doubled and is now an estimated 588 hectares in size.

The Newby Lake fire is burning southwest of Osoyoos in the Snowy Protected Area along the border to the United States.

The flames on the map mark where the two fires burning in the South Okanagan. (Photo Credit: BC Wildfire.)

According to BC Wildfire, the fire is active and is zero per cent contained as of Monday morning at 8:30 a.m. The fire has crossed from the Snowy Protected Area in Canada into the United States, and it is burning in the remote wilderness.

Smoke can be seen from Highway 3 and from several communities in the South Okanagan. The fire was sparked by lightning on Thursday, July 2nd, and Canadian firefighters are working with their American counterparts to fight this fire.

At the moment, one firefighter and one helicopter are onsite battling the blaze. The majority of resources for this fire have been reallocated to other high priority fires in the Okanagan.

Meanwhile, a smaller 100-hectare fire is still burning 24 kilometres north of Ashnola Forest Service Road. The fire is also zero per cent contained and smoke is visible from Highway 3 and Highway 97.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, but is suspected to be human-caused.

The 20 firefighters onsite have managed to sustain the blaze, but should fire activities continue, they may call for additional helicopter support.

Fire burning at Newby Lake. (Photo Credit: BC Wildfire.)