By Canadian Press

Structure fire spreads to wildfire ‘being held’ in B.C.’s southern Interior

Jun 26, 2021 | 5:36 PM

PEACHLAND, B.C. — Some properties were evacuated and others placed on alert as crews fight a fire now classified as being held in the town of Peachland in B.C.’s southern Interior.

The Central Okanagan Emergency Operations Centre says residents of Maranatha Drive were sheltering at the local community centre after being evacuated by RCMP, while an evacuation alert was in effect for properties on eight neighbouring streets.

The emergency centre says in a statement on Saturday that at least one property was destroyed by the fire that’s estimated to be just under one hectare in size.

Sam Ryan, a fire information officer with the B.C. Wildfire Service, says the fire began in a structure and spread to wild land, where 11 personnel are working alongside the local fire department to bring it under control.

Ryan says the fire was “being held,” which means it’s not likely to spread under the current and forecasted conditions.

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Fire danger ratings are listed moderate to high across much of B.C., with a few pockets where the wildfire service says the danger is extreme.

The service lists one 350-hectare “fire of note,” classified as burning out of control south of Lytton, though Ryan says there’s been no new growth and crews have made good progress despite the heat wave that’s descended on the province.

A map from the fire service shows 18 mostly very small active fires across B.C., up by 10 in the last two days, and half are classified as under control.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 26, 2021.

The Canadian Press