Strong Winds in Rock Creek to Impact Fire Area

Strong winds forecasted for the Rock Creek area this weekend could cause debris from its wildfire to take flight.

Around 12 p.m. on Saturday, a shift in weather may bring on an afternoon of steady southwest winds. The speed of these winds is predicted to be about 50 kilometres per hour gusting up 70 kilometres per hour.

The winds are expected to hold steady around Rock Creek, Westbridge, and Christian Valley throughout Sunday and Monday, although gusts are not expected to top 50 kilometres those days.

Burnt trees in the fire area may blow down throughout the weekend, and the wind may also increase airborne dry ash and cause debris from burnt structures to take flight.

Flare-ups have remained persistent within the interface area where the Rock Creek Fire has burned. To combat these flare-ups and to secure the fireline perimeter, contract fire crews will be working alongside BC Wildfire crews on Saturday.

Aerial support is now able to resume for the Rock Creek Fire, if needed, despite the heavy smoke that remains from Washington. A helicopter may be seen performing heat scans near the fire-protected area on Saturday morning. This is an important task in the process of ensuring that a fire does not breach established guards, as it helps firefighters to pursue hotspots and to prevent fire growth towards containment lines.

BC Wildfire Service is encouraging homeowners to FireSmart their homes, as the wildfire season is not over. Much loss can be prevented by proactive measures. Information on the FireSmart program can be found here.