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Wildfire in Cawston

Third wildfire of the season hits Keremeos - Cawston area
An argriculturalist mowing his orchard struck a rock and ignited the third wildfire to affect the Keremeos and Cawston this season on October 2.
The late season fire followed on the heels of an evening wildfire near Upper Bench Road two weeks ago.
The Tuesday fire started in a Barcelo Road orchard, near its southern end. It burned in grass and scattered pine, heading south and up nearby hillsides.
â??Everyoneâ??s property was pretty much safe,â? reported Keremeos Volunteer Fire Department Chief Jordy Bosscha, who, along with the Keremeos crew, spent several hours on the fire Tuesday evening.
Ministry of Forests also responded to the 16 hectare blaze with ground and air attack crews. Water bombers made three passes on Tuesday evening.
There was little fire activity notable on Wednesday afternoon, and forestry crews had adopted a monitoring stance on the outbreak.
There are sufficient natural barriers in the fireâ??s path to contain it, Bosscha also noted.
The Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations reported in a press release on October 3 that â??Due to the steep and inaccessible terrain within the fire, crews will not be able to safely access some areas. Smoke from this fire will be visible until conditions cool down and the area receives precipitation.
With unseasonably warm and dry weather conditions expected to continue over the Thanksgiving Day long weekend, the Kamloops Fire Centre is urging the public to continue to be cautious with their outdoor activities.�
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An argriculturalist  mowing his orchard struck a rock and ignited the third wildfire to affect the Keremeos and Cawston this season on October 2.

The late season fire followed on the heels of an evening wildfire near Upper Bench Road two weeks ago.

The Tuesday fire started in a Barcelo Road orchard, near its southern end. It burned in grass and scattered pine, heading south and up nearby hillsides.

“Everyone’s property was pretty much safe,” reported Keremeos Volunteer Fire Department Chief Jordy Bosscha, who, along with the Keremeos crew, spent several hours on the fire Tuesday evening.

Ministry of Forests also responded to the 16 hectare blaze with ground and air attack crews. Water bombers made three passes on Tuesday evening.

There was little fire activity notable on Wednesday afternoon, and forestry crews had adopted a monitoring stance on the outbreak.

There are sufficient natural barriers in the fire’s path to contain it, Bosscha also noted.

The Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations reported in a press release on October 3 that “Due to the steep and inaccessible terrain within the fire, crews will not be  able to safely access some areas. Smoke from this fire will be visible until  conditions cool down and the area receives precipitation.

With unseasonably warm and dry weather conditions expected to  continue over the Thanksgiving Day long weekend, the Kamloops Fire Centre  is urging the public to continue to be cautious with their outdoor  activities.”

 

The Regional District Okanagan Similkameen has also  implemented and extension to their burning ban, effective until November 1.

 

 

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