A grass fire in Kalamalka Park broke out on Friday afternoon. UPDATE 9 a.m One of two new fires in the North Okanagan is now classified as “contained” while fire crews continue to battle the one burning east of Armstrong. After aerial tankers and helicopters pounded the Cosens Creek fire Friday night, ground crews were able to contain the fire. The fire has grown to 4.6 hectares, but the BC Wildfire Service does not expect any further growth. Eight BCWS firefighters remain at the scene extinguishing the fire. But fire crews in the area have now turned their full attention to the 10-hectare Vlem Creek fire burning east of Armstrong on Saturday morning. Spallumcheen has activated a level 1 emergency center because of the fire, but the BC Wildfire Service says there is no current threat to Armstrong, Spallumcheen or any other buildings. This morning 25 BCWS firefighters are working to tackle the fire and are supported by three helicopters and eight pieces of heavy equipment, which are being used to build a guard. The fire is burning in a densely forested area and on Friday, it was burning at a Category 3 level. Armstrong Spallumcheen Fire Service is further assessing the situation with BCWS and township staff. The council website has information on how to prepare a farm or home for a fire under the emergency information page. Meanwhile, the Coldstream Fire Department welcomes the BC Wildfire Service for their assistance with the Cosens Creek Fire on Friday afternoon. “My sincere thanks to the BC Wildfire Service yesterday afternoon for their rapid aerial response to the Cosens Creek fire,” the department said on Facebook. “The two retardant drops they did, along with the excellent work with the helicopter bucket, allowed us to work with their ground crews and keep this fire contained to the prairie around Gingerly Trail.” ORIGINAL 8 am Two new wildfires in the North Okanagan continue to burn Saturday morning after starting Friday afternoon. The Cosens Creek Fire started shortly after 3pm in Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park. Helicopters and air tankers quickly tackled the fast-growing fire before ground crews from the BC Wildfire Service and local fire services arrived. As of Friday night, BCWS estimates its size at 4.6 hectares, but Fire Information Officer Shaelee Stearns says they won’t have a more updated size estimate until late morning. Later Friday afternoon, the Vlem Creek fire started in the hills east of Armstrong. Last night, the BCWS said the fire was burning in an area of large trees and showed Category 3 behavior. That means it had an “organized flame front and occasional candles.” Air tankers and helicopters battled the fire before nightfall. As of late Friday night, the fire had reached an area of 10 hectares. Both fires are not believed to threaten any structures, although both were highly visible to the public. Castanet will update this story as more information becomes available.
