Skip to content

Local firefighters battle Peace River blaze

BX-Swan Lake crew also dealing with fires in the local community
65814vernona-northfire5-16-16
The Beatton Airport Road

North Okanagan firefighters are busy at home and across the province.

Five members of the BX-Swan Lake and Armstrong-Spallumcheen fire departments are currently tackling the Beatton Airport Road fire 45 kilometres north of Fort St. John.

“It’s definitely an eye-opener,” said Bill Wacey, BX-Swan Lake fire chief, who is part of the response team.

“The fire picked up Sunday and took off again.”

The blaze is about 15,000 hectares in size and is 45 per cent contained. There is an evacuation order in place for residents of the area.

When asked to compare Beatton with other major fires he has been to, Wacey says, “It’s right up there with Rock Creek and Kelowna.”

Wacey, who has been up north for 12 days, returns to the North Okanagan Wednesday while the rest of the local firefighters will be there for two weeks.

But not all of the action is in the Peace region.

On Friday, the BX-Swan Lake department responded to a spreading abandoned campfire at BX Falls, while on Saturday, fire destroyed an abandoned camper on the first switchback on Silver Star Road.

Wacey insists residents need to be aware of the potential fire risk in the North Okanagan.

“It’s drying out really fast. This year could be as bad as last year,” he said.

“Use common sense. The BX Creek corridor is an extreme risk area for the North Okanagan.”