Peachland, B.C. (Richa Walia): Firefighters battling the Munro Lake wildfire near Peachland in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley are preparing to carry out a planned ignition operation aimed at reinforcing control lines and slowing the wildfire’s progress, emergency officials said Sunday.
The Central Okanagan Emergency Operations Centre reported that the fire, which has forced evacuations since Thursday, showed no growth overnight, though it remains out of control. The wildfire currently spans just over three square kilometres.
Planned Burn to Reduce Fuel Load
The BC Wildfire Service says the planned ignition will target approximately 54 hectares along the fire’s southeastern edge, aiming to clear unburned vegetation between the fire and existing containment lines. Officials say this will help prevent further spread of the blaze in that direction.
The operation is scheduled to be conducted by hand and will only proceed if weather and safety conditions are favourable.
“The goal is to safely reduce available fuel to give firefighters a better chance at controlling the fire,” the wildfire service stated in an update.
Heavy Equipment Deployed on Northern Flank
While ignition preparations are underway in the southeast, crews are also working along the northwest flank, using heavy machinery to build fire guards that will help prevent the fire from moving toward populated areas or infrastructure.
Over 90 personnel and five helicopters are currently assigned to the Munro Lake wildfire.
Evacuations and Alerts
While all residential evacuation orders issued on Thursday have been lifted and people have returned home, they remain under an evacuation alert, meaning they must be prepared to leave on short notice if conditions change.
One evacuation order remains in effect for an industrial zone in the Peachland area.
Officials caution that smoke and visible fire activity may increase during the planned ignition, which is expected and part of the control strategy.
Human-Caused Fire
The suspected cause of the fire is human activity, though the exact source has not been confirmed.
The Munro Lake wildfire is one of seven blazes currently listed as out of control across British Columbia, as fire crews continue to manage late-season wildfires intensified by dry conditions and unseasonably warm temperatures.
Residents are urged to stay informed through official emergency channels and adhere to all evacuation alerts and fire-related advisories.
