Hundreds of residents have been ordered to evacuate from Osoyoos, British Columbia, as an out-of-control wildfire, known as the Eagle Bluff wildfire (previously Lone Pine Creek wildfire), continues to spread near the U.S.-Canada border. As of Sunday morning, the fire has grown to 885 hectares on the Canadian side, while on the U.S. side, it has scorched over 4,000 hectares, as reported by Washington State wildfire officials.
The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen and the Town of Osoyoos issued the evacuation orders affecting 732 properties. The designated area under evacuation covers regions west of Highway 97, south of Highway 3, east of Nighthawk Road, and north of the U.S. border. Residents and visitors were urged to leave immediately due to the threat the fire poses to life and safety. Those evacuated have been directed to head to an emergency operations centre in nearby Oliver.
Additionally, 2,094 properties are placed on evacuation alert, and residents are advised to be ready to leave at short notice if conditions worsen.
The BC Wildfire Service responded to the blaze, deploying crews and additional resources, including a helicopter, heavy equipment, and structure protection personnel. As of Sunday, firefighters have been focusing on the east flank of the fire with 50 personnel on the scene. Furthermore, eleven pieces of heavy equipment and five helicopters have been deployed.
Thankfully, there was a decline in fire activity on Sunday, with the fire showing little growth since Saturday evening. Factors contributing to this were changes in wind direction, cooler temperatures, and increased humidity.
On the U.S. side of the border, the situation remains more active, with the wildfire scorching approximately 40 square kilometres as of Sunday evening. Unfortunately, three houses and one shed have been lost to the fire.
Jake Todd, spokesperson for the United States Forest Service, warned that the fire danger remains “very high.” Approximately 250 personnel are engaged in battling the blaze. The weather forecast for Monday indicates temperatures in the upper 30s Celsius with overnight lows around 10 degrees Celsius. Winds are expected to blow from both the north and south with gusts up to 50 kilometres per hour.
Authorities urge people under evacuation orders to comply for their own safety and to avoid hindering firefighting efforts. Drones should not be used in the area, and boaters are requested to stay off the water to allow room for aircraft.
The situation has led to concerns about water resources, prompting Town of Osoyoos Mayor Sue McKortoff to urge residents and businesses to reduce water consumption and avoid watering lawns to preserve resources for firefighting.
The Ministry of Transportation advises people to avoid driving on the 47-kilometre stretch of Highway 3 between Keremeos and Osoyoos.
As the wildfire continues to spread, it poses significant challenges and risks to the affected communities. With 1,517 wildfires already reported in British Columbia this year, covering approximately 15,397 square kilometres of land, authorities are working diligently to contain the inferno and protect lives and property.
Satellite view of the Eagle Bluff Fire near Oroville, WA. This loop starts around 12:10 pm PDT with the first sign of the fire (red glow along Canadian Border, south of Penticton) showing up just before 3:00 pm. As of 11:30 PM it is still burning. #wawx pic.twitter.com/yQEW0YTqG8
— NWS Spokane (@NWSSpokane) July 30, 2023