Inkaneep Creek Wildfire: New Fire Breaks Out Near Osoyoos

A new wildfire has broken out near Osoyoos, roughly 6km north of the area. The Osoyoos fire, referred to as the Inkaneep Creek wildfire, is out of control and has quickly grown in size over a short period of time.

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There are more than 300 fires burning around the province right now.

The season has already been costly and demanding with the hundreds of wildfires that emergency crews are dealing with around British Columbia. Out of town firefighters have come to the B.C. region to help battle those blazes. There are thousands who are on alert of possible evacuation and hundreds who have already been displaced by the fires.

There are multiple ways to send donations and help for those who have been impacted, including animals impacted by the wildfires in B.C.

So far it is believed that more than half of the wildfires in the province have been sparked by lightning, hundreds of those wildfires in B.C. have been linked with human activity as well.

New Fire in Osoyoos

The new wildfire that sparked and is growing in the Osoyoos region is located near Inkaneep Road, it has been described as aggressive and so far the cause of the Osoyoos fire is unknown. As with other fires in B.C. it will need to be investigated.

The Osoyoos wildfire is a rapidly evolving situation and it didn’t take long for there to be a visibly noticeable tunnel of smoke to appear in the sky, which residents have been filming and sharing to social media.

At the request of fire officials there were thousands of residents in the Osoyoos area, as well as Oliver, B.C., that had their power shut off for a period of time. It is reported that roughly 3k customers were impacted and the power was shut off because of the wildfire in the area. They would be restoring that power as soon as it was safe to make that move.

With hundreds of B.C. wildfires burning around the region there are more properties around the province that could face evacuation because of B.C. wildfires.

Travel Warnings Over Wildfires

Those in B.C. have been urged to avoid traveling to those areas that are facing possible evacuation. So far it is unlikely that a state of emergency is going to be called over the wildfires.

The government has also offered advice on what to do if you are under an evacuation order for wildfires in B.C. which include tips like preparing to leave on short notice, taking any necessary medicine and prescriptions, using leashes or carrier devices for pets (don’t forget the food), pack several days of clothing, and other suggestions.

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Yesterday it was seen that there was a significant amount of smoke around the southern B.C. interior because of those wildfires and the recent Osoyoos fire that is burning. With these B.C. wildfires it has also fueled warnings over air quality and the potential risks that might be associated with these smoky skies.

The Osoyoos fire threatens a number of properties in the region and hundreds of properties that are located within the Osoyoos Indian Band have already been evacuated over concerns related to the Osoyoos fire. The effects of that fire have been far-reaching as B.C. residents have reported seeing ash falling from the Osoyoos fire as far away as the Penticton region.

Over 300 Wildfires Burning Around B.C. Right Now

There are more than 300 active wildfires burning in the province of British Columbia right now.

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In the last 2 days more than 10 new fires in B.C. have started. Wildfire emergency crews are working to get control of those wildfires and there are several areas that remain on high alert and ready to face evacuation.

Already from the wildfires this season we have seen them completely destroy communities like Lytton, B.C. and because of the problem there are thousands more who could be evacuated around B.C.

Crews around the province are facing an extended fire season and have been working hard around the province to address the many fires that continue to burn. A number of firefighters have arrived from other countries in Canada now too, in an effort to help battle the B.C. wildfires that continue to burn around the province.

BC Camping Ban In Effect

Just recently the campfire ban in B.C. went into effect which meant that campfires would be banned everywhere in the province. The campfire ban in B.C. came into effect on June 30 2021 and is expected to last until Oct 15 2021.

This year is expected to be a record breaking year for BC Parks and a number of travelers have planned and booked camping trips this summer. Right now the province is moving forward with reopening plans and is already well underway with easing those COVID-19 restrictions around the province.

As far as the reopening goes, the Canadian border is expected to be opening soon to fully vaccinated American travelers and it might be later this fall that we see more changes on other travelers being allowed to resume non-essential travel to Canada just the same.

More details on the Canada border reopening this year are expected to come soon.

This is one question that many have been asking which is when will the Canada border reopen like normal. Not just for vaccinated but when will the border also be open for non-vaccinated to engage in non-essential travel just as well without having to quarantine. Answers to these questions might be coming soon.

In the meantime, across Canada various provinces are easing their own COVID-19 restrictions and moving forward with reopening plans. The hundreds of wildfires are a concern right now for many who live in those affected areas but also for travelers who might have thought about planning a visit to those areas.

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Almost 70% of those fires in BC have been Sparked By Lightning

It is believed that more than half of those wildfires in B.C., around 68.2%, have been sparked by lightning. While lightning has been blamed for a number of fires to date, the province of B.C. has also blamed hundreds of wildfires in the province on human activities too.

It is believed that lightning was responsible for a majority of the wildfires in B.C. this season.

The wildfires are having an impact on the province in multiple ways. They have meant a number of British Columbians have been evacuated, thousands still could face that situation. It has also meant that many have lost everything in the fires, like those residents in Lytton, B.C. , there has been a heavy and emotional toll that the fires have had on individuals and communities around the province this year.

Helping Those Impacted by Wildfires in B.C.

There are a number of funds and organizations that have sprung into action to address the need of evacuees from those wildfires. And some of those accommodations are already filling up as we see more evacuations around the province.

The wildfires around B.C. have impacted the animal community too. For the BC SPCA they have also sought to cut their adoption fees to free up some shelter space for the animals in need. Around the province the BC SPCA and other rescue organizations have been doing vital work to provide care and emergency services to those animals in B.C. impacted by the wildfires.

The emergency crews in B.C. have continued to fight hundreds of wildfires around the area but the problem has been placing a significant strain on those valuable B.C. firefighting resources.

B.C Fires Rage On: Communities Ready To Evacuate On Short Notice

Communities around B.C. that are facing the threat of wildfires right now are on alert and ready to leave on short notice if the evacuation order comes.

There are a number of fires that are currently burning around the province and some areas like Lytton have been significantly impacted by those B.C fires already, with a number of buildings and homes burning to the ground.

The B.C fires are also causing concern for air quality in the region and down in the West Coast of Washington and Oregon as well.

With the fires burning around the province there are hundreds of properties that could potentially face evacuation orders, or more. Out of town firefighters have also already been brought in to help with the issue.

The BC SPCA is busy rescuing animals the have been impacted in communities hit by wildfires too. The BC SPCA does detrimental work in B.C when it comes to helping injured animals and being an emergency support line for animals in need around the province.

Some Western Rail cars have also been halted again because of the wildfires and those fires around BC have threatened the supply chain for a period of time. The aggressive season that has begun with the recent heat wave has also been quickly draining resources that emergency services have allotted to deal with the wildfire season.

The crews aren’t able to get to all fires because of the unprecedented demand they are seeing.

There have been dozens of fires in recent weeks burning all over the province with various evacuation alerts that have already been given out in different communities in B.C. Multiple places such as 100 Mile House, Cache Creek and Ashcroft, are just a few of the regions that have recently been on evacuation alert for those fires.

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There are thousands of properties that are reportedly on standby because of the fires that are burning in B.C right now and it means that many more families and individuals could face losing everything they have like many in the town experienced in Lytton.

Crews have been battling wildfires around British Columbia and because of the amount they are seeing it might mean not responding right away to a potential issue. Heat warnings are also expected to be staying in place for the time being as the current temperatures remain.

Already those wildfires have closed a portion of the highway through the B.C. Chilcotin region recently and crews are facing a tough battle in trying to get things under control.

Unusual weather mixed with a heat wave, then a thunderstorm, have all worked together to fuel the wildfire season that crews are seeing right now. What they are seeing is reportedly typical for what they might experience in August and they expect that this season might drag into fall as well. More than 30% of those wildfires have also been attributed to human activity too, with some also believed to have been started by natural causes.

More Than 200 Fires Burning: High to Extreme Risk in B.C. Over Wildfires

There are more than 200 wildfires that are currently burning around B.C. It is reported that at least one third of those fires are out of control right now in the province. We have seen more than 1,000 people in B.C. be forced to leave their homes after fire swept through the town of Lytton, B.C. and burned most of it to the ground.

After that fire in Lytton it didn’t take long for donations and support to start pouring in from the community. And now there are more areas that are in need of help, who are also at risk of wildfires.

Out of province firefighters have recently arrived in B.C. to help as the fires burn out of control.

Some of those out of province firefighters have been sent from as far as Eastern Canada to help with the wildfires in B.C. that are burning right now. There are over 200 blazes burning around B.C. currently and the risk right now is extremely high.

British Columbia campfire ban has also recently gone into effect

The B.C. campfire ban has recently gone into effect but despite the warnings and the fires going on around the province that hasn’t stopped some from trying to light up. Recently, conservation officers around the province reportedly handed out more than $25k in fines over campfires that took place over the weekend.

Since that ban on campfires in BC had gone into effect there are dozens of tickets that have already been given out to those who have been caught allegedly violating the rules.

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As those fires continue to burn around the province it might have some already rethinking their summer camping plans or travel plans, especially to areas that might now be looking at potential warnings to evacuate.

Cost Of fighting Wildfires In BC

There is a high cost to fighting those wildfires around the province, and already they’ve spent more than $95 million just this year. Peak fire season isn’t here yet and things could get worse, it could easily get more expensive. That amount that has already been spent fighting fires in B.C. is around 70% of their annual budget.

It isn’t uncommon for the province to spend millions fighting these wildfires each year. Already there are hundreds of buildings and homes that have been destroyed and Lytton has been devastated.

There are a number of organizations, like the Red Cross, who are already taking donations and giving support to those around the province who have been impacted by the wildfires.

BC Wildfire Service are expecting heightened activity for July and there are already some large fires burning out of control around the province. It is also anticipated that more smoke from British Columbia wildfires could also blow into Washington. Though questions have been raised about air quality it is expected to remain ‘good’ in that area.

B.C. Wildfires Cause Damage For Supply Chain

The Port of Vancouver and supply chain in the region are being impacted by those 200+ fires currently burning. There have been trade delays because of the B.C. wildfires and damage done to key railway tracks as well.

Train shipments in B.C. have had to be halted because of the wildfires, and with a large number of ships that are waiting to arrive there is also a backlog that is gradually being worked on to be cleared out fully for everything to get back to normal.

For the meantime however, those wildfires have impacted the shipment of goods like lumber, grains, and other items.

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That return to normal might not be just a few days, but could be weeks away from being fully realized. This is because there were thousands of railway cars that were impacted so far by the wildfires in the province.

Recovery on this might be slow and take more than a few days to sort through after the recent upset. If they don’t start to get moving then people could start to see that trickle down to the shelves.

With the more than 200 wildfires in B.C. that are burning right now there are 15 wildfires that have already been classified as highly visible or potentially threatening.

As for regions that have seen the worst of it, like Lytton, the BC SPCA has said that they will be going to the area to rescue stranded animals that got left behind in the evacuation zone.

So far the BC SPCA has successfully rescued dozens of animals from the Lytton fire. Some of those rescued animals have already been taken to facilities in areas like Kamloops, B.C. for care.

To give to help the SPCA help animals in Lytton, B.C. and other areas you can visit their site here.