SIT REP 2: July 29, 2023, Saturday, 2300 PT

Two wildfires are burning in Washington State where it ignited and headed up north over the Canadian border near a town. We are covering both fires even though the BC wildfire is technically out of the U.S., we are still updating both incidents since they are related to one another.

EAGLE BLUFF FIRE (WA/US)

INCIDENT SUMMARY. A wildfire named the EAGLE BLUFF FIRE for its location on Eagle Bluff Road in Oroville (Okanogan), Washington, which ignited from an unknown cause on July 29, 2023, Saturday, has taken off and burned through heavy fire fuels now into our neighboring Canada.

The LONE PINE FIRE, which is on the Canadian side has been confirmed with verified fire sources as being the one in the same wildfire which started in Washington State heading north until it crossed over into the British Columbia side of Canada.

When we cover this wildfire we will cover both of them together. Updates will provide “verified” fire sources from both the United States and Canada.

SIZE UP. The fire has moved across the Canadian border and is now 5,000 acres doubling in size when around 1800 hours it was still listed as a 2,500-acre wildfire. Units assigned to this incident include W Uplnd 10, SO 7211, BC 11, DNR 60, BC 91, E 692, C 7340, BC 12, SO 25, SO 7201, SO 7203, SO 27, HI 25, HI 27, DZ 7150, Fuels 9, HI 7103, HI 7108, HI 7104, SO 7209, HI 7111, NE 82, BR 1523, DZ 7251, DNR 33, HI 60, and Fuels 1.

STATE MOB RESOURCES APPROVED. The Washington State Fire Marshal’s Office (WSP) has approved the State’s request to have additional resources respond on the U.S. side of the fire. The fire is said to be threatening homes, crops and infrastructure. Level 2 and 3 Evacuations are in effect. (2310PT)

MAP. According to mapping, it shows that the area where the fire started is approximately 7.7 miles or in moderate traffic would be 22 minutes. The fire, more or less, has burned in a straight line from the Oroville location directly to Osoyoos, BC where a large fire appears to be cresting and heading down to the Lake.

PHOTO CREDIT. Microsoft Bing Maps

LONE PINE CREEK FIRE (BC/CAN)

INCIDENT SUMMARY. The Lone Pine Fire or Lone Pine Creek Fire has burned about 200 hectares according to the BC Wildfire Services website, which is about 494 acres we would call it, and about four km or almost 2.5 miles from Osoyoos. The fire was discovered on Saturday, July 29, 023 at 1421 hours (PT). It is considered an out-of-control wildfire by their official used fire terminology. It is more of a firestorm as it continues to burn everything in its path. According to the BC Wildfire Service, this fire is burning in the Kamloops Dispatch Center area, where 32 other fires are currently burning at the same time.

BC FIRE RESOURCES. There are about four IA (Initial Attack) crews, two heavy pieces of equipment, aviation aircraft, and a structure protection unit all responding to the incident.

EVACUEES – RESOURCES. BC | Okanagan-Similkameen EOC. https://emergency.rdos.bc.ca/resources/

CAUSE. They state the fire started in the U.S. and crossed over into their BC province. They are investigating the exact cause of the fire.

EVACUATIONS ARE IN EFFECT. Due to the potential danger to life and health, the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen and the Town of Osoyoos have issued an Evacuation ALERT for the following areas: 

The Alert covers the area north of the Canada/U.S. border to the intersection of Hwy #97 and Hwy #3, west and north along Hwy #3

BC Evacuation Map. https://emergency.rdos.bc.ca/latest-updates/

(c) NW Fire Blog