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Evacuation alert lifted for over 600 OK Falls properties near Thomas Creek fire

Thomas Creek fire moves north towards Penticton
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Thomas Creek fire seen from West Bench Aug. 3. (Brennan Phillips Western News)

A total of 631 properties in the Okanagan Falls area have been removed from evacuation alert.

An evacuation alert for over 700 properties was issued by the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS) in the Thomas Creek fire area of Electoral Area D on July 12.

The Thomas Creek fire, currently listed at just over 10,000 hectares is moving north and away from Okanagan Falls and more into the burn area of the Christie Mountain fire.

There are still over 70 properties up in the mountains that will remain on alert.

Over 600 properties in OK Falls removed from evacuation alert. Some still remain. (RDOS map)
Over 600 properties in OK Falls removed from evacuation alert. Some still remain. (RDOS map)

The Thomas Creek fire started on Sunday, July 11 and quickly grew into hundreds of hectares.

The blaze continues to steadily move northwards and residents near Penticton can expect plenty more smoke over the coming days.

The majority of the recent fire activity is concentrated on the north flanks of the blaze, particularly in the Derenzy and McLean Clan Lake areas according to the BC Wildfire Service.

Recent conditions, despite the brief rain over the weekend, have been hot and dry which has increased fire activity.

On Tuesday, the fire jumped a fireguard, and efforts are now underway to utilize existing contingency guards to curb the fire’s spread.

READ MORE: Thomas Creek wildfire moves closer to Penticton

READ MORE: Anarchist Mountain evacuees go back home from Nk’Mip fire

READ ALSO: New fire sparked near Princeton



Monique Tamminga

About the Author: Monique Tamminga

Monique brings 20 years of award-winning journalism experience to the role of editor at the Penticton Western News. Of those years, 17 were spent working as a senior reporter and acting editor with the Langley Advance Times.
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