UPDATE: Evacuation alert in place overnight for Cinnabar Creek fire

UPDATE: The evacuation alert has been lifted. The latest information on this story can be found here.

Update: 9:25 p.m.

The Evacuation Alert for the Cinnabar Creek wildfire remains in effect overnight.

According to Central Okanagan Emergency Operations, that means that residents and visitors at Lake Okanagan Resort, Camp Owaissi and Camp Mewata must remain prepared to leave with short notice should fire conditions change.

The wildfire is still about 2.8-hectares in size.

Overnight, firefighters and equipment will stay on the scene of the fire, monitor it and put out hot spots. Wilson’s Landing and North Westside departments have help from West Kelowna Fire Rescue and about 20 firefighters from the BC Wildfire Service.

Overnight, residents of the Okanagan can expect to see smoke, visible flame and reduced visibility throughout the area.

Part of Westside Road will remain closed overnight.

The next update is expected to be put out by 9 a.m. Thursday, after the situation is assessed.

Update: 7:05 p.m.

The cinnabar Creek fire is showing signs of letting up, as fire officials have downgraded it from a Rank 2 to Rank 1 fire.

According to the Kamloops Fire Service, the fire sits at about 2.8 hectares in size, and is now primarily a smouldering ground fire.

Air tankers have finished laying retardant for the day, but some skimmers remain on the scene reinforcing retardant lines.

A unit crew will remain on the scene overnight to monitor the fire, and Westside road remains closed.

UPDATE: 5:55 p.m.

BC Wildfire Service crews are working to contain the wildfire near Cinnabar Creek, which has grown to two hectares in size.

A total of fourteen provincial firefighters are on the scene, assisting the Wilson’s Landing Fire department.

Along with crews on the ground, nine aircraft are also working to contain the fire, including two bird-dogs, four air tankers and two skimmers.

Fire Information Officer Max Birkner says crews now have retardant down on two sides of the fire, and that the blaze is primarily Rank 2, with pockets of Rank 3.

“That means open and active flame, and some candling going on in the trees,” Birkner says.

Evacuation alerts remain in effect for Okanagan Lake Resort, Lake Owaissi Youth Camp and Camp Metawa along Westside Road.

RCMP have also set up roadblocks for all traffic on Westside Road, south of Lake Okanagan Resort and just south of Dennison Road

UPDATE: 5:10 p.m.

Evacuation Alerts are now in effect for areas near Cinnabar Creek, thanks to the possible threat of wildfire.

The Regional District of the Central Okanagan is asking people in Okanagan Lake Resort, Lake Owaissi Youth Camp and Camp Metawa to stay on guard, and be ready to leave if necessary.

Stay tuned to @CO_Emerg for updates on Cinnabar Creek evacs #BCwildfire #Okanagan #Kelowna pic.twitter.com/WbQbXxxsNQ

— BC Wildfire Service (@BCGovFireInfo) August 18, 2016

RCMP are on scene conducting traffic control, and the the Emergency Operation Centre has been activated.

As many as five amphibious aircraft are also now responding to the fire, including at least one plane dropping retardant.

Boats may be hampering fire skimmers ability to properly fill up, and boaters are being asked to leave the area.

ORIGINAL STORY:

BC Wildfire Service is currently responding to a wildfire near Cinnibar Creek, 16 kilometres north of Kelowna.

The fire is within municipal boundaries, but the Wilson’s Landing Fire Service requested help from the Province.

The fire is currently estimated at 1.5 hectares in size and is displaying Rank 2 and Rank 3 fire behavior, with open flames.

“It’s very visible to the surrounding community,” said Melissa Klassen, Fire Information Officer.

Klassen said they have a total of seven firefighters en-route to the incident and air tankers that will also be responding.

It is an interface fire, burning near structures, although Klassen says those structures are not threatened at this time.

KelownaNow has a reporter en route, and will update soon.