Update: 4:09 p.m Fire Information Officer Melanie Bibeau says the Jack Creek Wildfire remains at 7.3 hectares. “We currently have a unit crew on scene with multiple helicopters and two BC Wildfire resources,” he said. The fire is declared out of control. Bibeau says crews will be monitoring the fire closely as the evening progresses. “Crews will continue to monitor the weather and provide updates on how to respond to the fire.” A total of 17 properties along Maxwell Road remain under evacuation alert. UPDATE 2:35 p.m The BC Wildfire Service says the Jack Creek fire is now mapped at 7.3 hectares, up from 4.5 hectares this morning. A fire spokesman says the increase in size is due to a more accurate map and some minor growth. UPDATE: 1:10 p.m The Jack Creek Wildfire continues to burn in the hills west of Glenrossa. Firefighters spent Thursday morning hiking over rough terrain to reach the fire burning above the Trepanier area. Nineteen BC Wildfire Service firefighters have been assigned to the 4.5 hectare fire. The fire is believed to have been caused by lightning on Wednesday afternoon. Seventeen properties along Maxwell Road near the Trepanier Road Hwy 97C exit were placed on evacuation alert late Wednesday night by emergency officials. Neighbors along Maxwell tell Castanet that at this point they aren’t too worried. “I definitely noticed the fire crew was on it. My partner works as a firefighter in Penticton for the crew so we were notified and knew they were on it,” resident Brittany Webster said. “It was super windy. So they put the ground crew and the helicopters out until it got a little dark and after that, I think the ground crew took care of it after that,” he said. Webster says she won’t be moving her horses off the property. “We’ll have to take them to the Peachland Riding Club and we’ve got some goats too so we’ll just make sure we have a tight bond and keep them close so they don’t go too far and then just tow them if we need to get them out.” BC Wildfire says wind has increased the fire, but noted cooler overnight temperatures helped limit growth. The public is asked to stay away from the Maxwell Road area to allow crews to work. Madison Erhardt UPDATE 11:55 AM Firefighters spent Thursday morning hiking over rough terrain to reach the Jack Creek Fire, which is burning above the Trepanier area. “They’re trying to get access to the fire … it’s a little more difficult to get to the fire, there’s just no roads that go directly into the area,” fire information officer Shaelee Stearns said Thursday morning. “But crews are on the ground, so they would either be near the fire or right on top of it now.” Nineteen BC Wildfire Service firefighters have been assigned to the 4.5 hectare fire. The fire is believed to have been caused by lightning on Wednesday afternoon. Aircraft and helicopters also hit the fire on Thursday morning. The wind has picked up on the fire, but Stearns says she doesn’t know what the fire’s behavior is right now. He noted that cooler overnight temperatures helped limit growth. UPDATE 10:30 AM BC Wildfire Service firefighters continue to battle the fire above the Trepanier area, but municipal firefighters have not been called to assist at this time. Municipal firefighters generally assist in structure protection during interface fires. There are currently 17 properties along Maxwell Road under an evacuation alert, but no residents have been ordered to leave. West Kelowna Fire Rescue Chief Jason Brolund says the fire is burning outside the jurisdiction of both West Kelowna and Peatland, but they are ready to help if asked by the BC Fire Service. “We have not been asked for any help, the fire is out of our jurisdiction,” Brolund said. “But we’re definitely keeping an eye on it and we’re in contact with BC Wildfire. They know we’re here if they need help.” Peachland Fire Chief Dennis Craig says his crews have not been requested by BCWS at this time, but BCWS crews are using a Peachland hydrant to fill their tenders with water. The Jack Creek fire was sparked by lightning on Wednesday afternoon and is currently estimated at 4.5 hectares in size. There are currently 19 BCWS firefighters working to fight the fire, plus six skimmers hitting the fire from above. Photo: Cassidy Oliver The Jack Creek fire Wednesday afternoon. UPDATE 9 a.m Crews with the BC Wildfire Service are back in the Trepanier area this morning battling the Jack Creek Fire burning in the hills west of Glenrosa. BCWS fire information officer Shaelee Stearns says a 15-person crew along with a four-person initial attack crew are working the fire on the ground, while six skimmers are fighting it from the air. Stearns says the fire showed no growth overnight and remains contained to about 4.5 hectares in size. He says the fire is burning on steep terrain, making access a little more difficult. The fire was discovered around 5:30 Wednesday afternoon. BCWS says the fire was caused by lightning. Seventeen properties along Maxwell Road remain under evacuation alert. ORIGINAL 5 am An initial attack team of 10 from the BC Fire Service worked into the night on a new fire looming in the Upper Trepanier area. Seventeen properties along Maxwell Road, near the Trepanier Road Hwy 97C exit, were placed on evacuation alert late Wednesday night by emergency officials, who said an update should be available by “mid-Thursday morning.” The Jack Creek fire was noticed around 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, immediately attracting BCWS firefighting aircraft. A plume of smoke was initially visible from across the lake, but cleared later in the evening. The fire was last detected in an area of 4.5 hectares. Photos sent to Castanet Wednesday afternoon showed the fire burning moderately on the slopes of Mount Miller. Fire officials said it was a Level 2 and 3 burn, out of 6, and said it was caused by lightning. The public is asked to stay away from the Maxwell Road area to allow crews to work. This story will be updated throughout the day for the latest news on the fire. Photo: BCWS
