Update: 4 p.m.
Progress is being made on three wildfires burning in the Vernon area.
The wildfire in the Salmon River area west of Vernon is now listed by BC Wildfire Service as under control and is spot sized according to fire information officer Taylor Shantz. The fire was discovered just before 3 p.m. Friday and the suspected cause is lightning. It is being fought by four BC Wildfire personnel with a water tender on site. Crews also used an excavator to dig around the fire.
The Horseshoe Lake wildfire in Spallumcheen is still 3.2 hectares in size as of 4 p.m. Saturday. Six BC Wildfire crews remain on site with a water tender and a helicopter, and crews are “making good progress on that one,” Shantz said. The wildfire is still classified as out of control, and an evacuation alert is still in effect.
The Star Creek wildfire east of Vernon is still burning at 10 hectares in size. A total of 25 BC Wildfire personnel are on site with one helicopter supporting the efforts.
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Original:
Three wildfires are currently out of control close to Vernon.
The closest is to the west of Otter Lake, off of Highway 97 north of Vernon. It is currently an estimated 3.22 hectares and was caused by lightning.
East of Vernon, the Star Creek wildfire is now 10 hectares. It is suspected to be human-caused.
The newest blaze is west of Vernon at Weyman Creek and was discovered just before 3 p.m. on Friday, July 7. It is just 0.009 hectares in size right now and the cause is currently under investigation.
Black Press Media will update the wildfires in the Okanagan throughout the day.
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