UPDATE: Calcite Creek wildfire over 900 hectares, BCWS working on structure protection plans for properties

(UPDATE: July 22 @ 8:00 pm)— The Calcite Creek wildfire is now estimated at over 900 hectares.

The fire is still classified as burning out of control.

(UPDATE: July 22 @ 11:30 am)— The Calcite Creek Wildfire has spread to 764 hectares, as of the latest update by BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) today.

The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen Emergency Operations Centre (RDOS EOC) said this morning that the BCWS is working on a structure protection plan with property owners in the communities of Eastgate and Bonnevier. Agricultural producers or anyone with grazing lease lands is asked to contact the EOC at 250-490-4225.

An evacuation alert remains unchanged and in effect for Eastgate, Pasayten Area, and Placer Lake in Electoral Area “H”.

The suspected lightning-caused fire was discovered on July 18, 2024, 41 kilometres south of Princeton. It is still burning out of control, meaning it is expected to continue spreading past the current perimeter or control lines.

This wildfire is burning in close vicinity to two other wildfires, and ground crews and heavy equipment are working on all three incidents "where possible and safe to do so."

(UPDATE: July 22 @ 5:05 am) – The fire is now estimated to be 519 hectares.

That's according to BC Wildfire Service's latest update, made on Sunday.

The fire remains out of control.

The next RDOS update on the fire is scheduled for 10 am this morning.

(UPDATE: July 21 @ 10:55 am) – The Calcite Creek wildfire continues to burn south of Princeton as the blaze jumped to 405 hectares in size yesterday.

In a Sunday morning announcement from the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen Emergency Operations Centre, the RDOS stated that there are no changes to the current evacuation alert.

On Thursday, July 18, an evacuation alert was put in place for the communities of Eastgate, Pasayten and Placer in Electoral Area “H”.

The RDOS added that it is continuing to monitor the situation.

(UPDATE: July 20 @ 9:30 am) – The Calcite Creek wildfire south of Princeton has more than doubled in size as the blaze continues to burn out of control.

The fire ballooned to 194 hectares in size according to a Friday evening update from the BC Wildfire Service.

An evacuation alert issued by the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen remains in place for the communities of Eastgate and the surrounding areas of Pasayten and Placer.

Not far from the blaze, the Placer Mountain and Pasaytan Creek wildfires are now under control, according to the BCWS.

Up-to-date information from the RDOS can be found online at this link.

(UPDATE: July 19 @ 12 pm) – The Calcite Creek wildfire has grown to 85 hectares since being discovered yesterday in the Pasayten Valley area south of Princeton. Yesterday, it was estimated to be about 25 hectares in size.

The wildfire is burning in close vicinity to two other wildfires, both of which are small for now (Placer Mountain & Pasaytan Creek).

"Aerial resources and ground crews are working on all three wildfires where possible and safe to do so, and additional resources are en route," says the BC Wildfire Service.

The RDOS says an evacuation alert put in place yesterday evening remains in place today for the communities of Eastgate, Pasayten Area, and Placer. The district says people in the effected area should have their grab-and-go bag and a small emergency kit that "is easy to take with you, in case you need to leave right away."

(UPDATE: July 18 @ 4:45 pm) – The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS) has issued an evacuation alert for areas near a newly discovered wildfire near E.C. Manning Park.

The alert is for the communities of Eastgate, Pasayten Area, and Placer, a news release says.

The alert is being used due to the threat of the Calcite Creek wildfire, which was discovered Thursday afternoon.

“This Evacuation Alert has been issued to prepare you to evacuate your premises or property should it be found necessary,” the RDOS says.

“Residents will be given as much advance notice as possible prior to evacuation; however, you may receive limited notice due to changing conditions.”

(Original story: July 18 @ 3:35 pm) – BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) is responding to a new wildfire that was discovered today in the Pasayten Valley area south of Princeton.

The Calcite Creek wildfire, located between E.C. Manning Provincial Park and Cathedral Provincial Park, is suspected to be caused by lightning.

It is currently estimated to be 25 hectares in size.

BCWS says it is displaying aggressive fire behaviour and growth. It is classified as out of control.

Currently, there are helicopter and ground crews on site. A Bird Dog is also responding to the fire, as well as other incidents in the area.

The BCWS warned of increased fire activity this week, due to thunderstorms moving in and sustained heat in parts of BC.