UPDATE: Goode's Creek wildfire now classified as under control

(UPDATE: August 4 @ 1:19 p.m.) - Great news from the front lines of the Goode’s Creek wildfire today.

The fire is now classified as under control, meaning the fire has received sufficient suppression action to ensure no further spread of the fire. Cooler temperatures have helped crews make good progress on the fire the past couple of days.

Despite this, the BC Wildfire Service says that smoke will continue to be visible on this fire in the vicinity of Rattlesnake Island. The areas emitting smoke are located within the fire boundary.

There are 10 firefighters on site today working on extinguishing hot spots. Gear continues to be demobilized in areas where it is no longer needed.

(UPDATE: August 3 @ 5:50 p.m.) - The Goode's Creek wildfire is now classified as being held, meaning it is not likely to spread past current perimeters in the forecasted conditions.

Crews will continue to patrol and extinguish any hot spots that are found. The BC Wildfire Service says that there will be smoke visible on this fire today. Helicopters are assisting crews in suppression operations.

(UPDATE: August 3 @ 2:30 p.m.) - The Goode’s Creek wildfire has seen no growth since yesterday and continues to burn at 1,370 hectares.

According to BC Wildfire Service, temperatures are expected to reach 24 to 28 degrees Celsius with a southwest wind varying from 15 to 25 kilometres an hour.

Isolated showers are expected today which means a small amount of rain may reach parts of the fire. Other areas will remain dry which has the potential to cause active fire behaviour.

Around 32 ground crew members will continue to put out any hotspots that are found.

Additional gear that is not needed has been demobilized.

(UPDATE: August 2 @ 11:35 a.m.) - The Goodes Creek fire continues to stay at the estimated size of 1,370 hectares.

Today, there are 32 firefighters on scene with air support as needed.

Winds are expected to be a bit higher than normal which has the potential to elevate fire behaviour.

Ground crews will continue to patrol and extinguish any hot spots that are found. Some fire equipment will be demobilized where it is no longer needed.

(UPDATE: August 1 @ 6:20 p.m.) - The Goode’s Creek wildfire hasn’t seen any growth and is still estimated at 1,370 hectares in size.

There were 25 personnel on site today, and BC Wildfire Service reports that there was good progress made with containment established on a large area of the fire yesterday.

Crews will be continuing to extinguish any hot spots that they discover while patrolling.

"Even though the wildfires within the Okanagan Complex seem inactive as resources are being downsized and fire equipment is getting demobilized, be advised that they are expected to continue producing smoke. The perimeters of these wildfires are being mopped-up (extinguished) and any smoke that may be visible will be from fuels burning in the middle. This smoke is anticipated," says BC Wildfire Service.

(UPDATE: July 31 @ 8:50 p.m.) - BCWFS says "good progress" has been made on the Goode's Creek fire with the 30 firefighters on site extinguishing hot spots throughout Tuesday.

(UPDATE: July 30 @ 8:34 p.m.) - The Goode's Creek fire has not changed from this morning, but BCWFS does have a lot of resources on the area working on containing the fire from moving toward communities, like Kelowna, and protecting valued assets in the area.

BCWFS continues to be concerned about the effects of heat on the firefighters and are hoping to downsize resource commitment in the coming days.

(UPDATE: July 30 @ 11 a.m.) - Fire crews continue to battle the out of control Goode's Creek wildfire in Okanagan Mountain Park.

It hasn't shown much growth since spiking to 1,370 hectares late in the week and 53 firefighters remain on the ground with air support as well.

"Crews will continue to focus their suppression efforts on the south flank by extinguishing any heat they find while patrolling," reads the latest update from BC Wildfire.

For those crews on the ground, Sunday was particularly challenging due to the hot weather.

According to BC Wildfire, temperature on site reached a blazing hot 42°C to close out the weekend.

(UPDATE: July 29 @ 9:10 p.m.) - The Goode's Creek fire has not sustained any change from this morning.

(UPDATE: July 29 @ 8:48 a.m.) - The Goode’s Creek wildfire burning near Kelowna experienced substantial growth over Friday, however it is estimated at the same size this morning as it was yesterday. They also noted that the fire did not grow in the direction of Kelowna.

BC Wildfire Service says that the fire has had an increase in size as it “burnt within predetermined parameters that BC Wildfire Service and BC Parks set.”

“This growth was anticipated and beneficial in removing fuels,” they said.

The fire is 1,370 hectares in size this morning and is still classified as out of control. Today there are 54 firefighters at the scene and air support as needed.

The BC Wildfire Service said yesterday that their suppression efforts on the fire were being impacted by boaters on Okanagan Lake.

“Stay clear of helicopters and skimmers. It is dangerous and hazardous to boaters and our staff when boaters get too close. It stops us from doing our job and puts your communities at risk. The lake is large enough to accommodate our air operations and weekend fun. Support our crews by staying clear of wildfire response operations,” says BC Wildfire Service.

(UPDATE: July 28 @ 6:40 p.m.) - The Goode's Creek wildfire has experienced substantial growth in recent days, measuring 1,370 hectares on Saturday and remains out of control.

Glen Burgess, Incident Commander for the BCWFS Okanagan Complex, noted that the fire has progressed southward away from Kelowna and towards the Okanagan Mountain peak.

"In accordance with the park management strategy, where fire is acceptable, we're not spending a lot of energy to worry about perimeter containment, it's more about the values protection and the park's investment," explained Burgess adding that the fire has remained within the Okanagan Mountain Park area.

The Goode's Creek wildfire, as with the other fires in the Okanagan Mountain Park, are being actioned in a modified response with limited actioning that allows the fires to burn within certain conditions. BCWFS will instead focus on values protection in the area, including structures and human lives.

Crews will continue to work the south flank by extinguishing any heat they find while patrolling while the north flank will begin to undergo a demobilization of equipment.

Smoke will be visible from this fire to nearby communities.

BCWFS is also reminding residents to avoid the active wildfire suppression worksites as they are safety hazards to citizens.

REMINDER: the Mount Eneas, Goode's Creek and Glenfir Road wildfires are active worksites and the public MUST NOT ENTER. These wildfires may look inactive, but there are significant safety hazards that continue to be present. #BCwildfire pic.twitter.com/7o4IIeCf6w

— BC Wildfire Service (@BCGovFireInfo) July 28, 2018

(UPDATE: July 28 @ 1:40 p.m.) - The BC Wildfire Service says that the response to the Goode's Creek wildfire is being impacted by boaters on Okanagan Lake.

They are warming people to please stay clear of helicopters and skimmers, as it is a safety hazard for both boaters and BC Wildfire personnel.

Response to the Goode’s Creek #BCwildfire in #Kelowna is being impacted by boaters on #Okanagan Lake. Please stay clear of helicopters and skimmers. It is dangerous and hazardous to boaters and our staff when boaters get too close.

— BC Wildfire Service (@BCGovFireInfo) July 28, 2018

(UPDATE: July 28 @ 9 a.m.) - The Goode's Creek wildfire is still at 577 hectares in size this morning.

Crews will continue to focus their suppression efforts on the south flank by extinguishing any heat they find while patrolling. The north flank will begin to undergo a demobilization of equipment.

There are 54 firefighter on the scene with air support as needed. The fire is still considered active.

(UPDATE: July 26 @ 7:00 p.m.) - BC Wildfire Service is reporting that the Goode’s Creek wildfire has seen an increase in fire activity.

Skimmers are now supporting ground crew operations, however, the fire is not moving towards Kelowna, nor threatening any structures at this time.

Thursday evening's forecast is calling for wind gusts up to 40/km an hour and a low throughout the night.

Crews have been dealing with the blaze hitting unburnt fuels and the wildfire continues to produce a visible amount of smoke.

NowMedia will continue to update this story as more information becomes available.

(UPDATE: July 26 @ 10:30 a.m.) - The Goode’s Creek wildfire remains at an estimated 577 hectares in size this morning.

Not much has changed in the fire overnight, and the BC Wildfire Service says the fire is still classified as out of control as they can’t guarantee further spread won’t happen.

The fire is working its way through the small drainages, hitting unburnt fuels and creating visible smoke.

The are 63 personnel (49 from BC Wildfire Service and 14 contract firefighters) at the fire. They are assisted by the nine helicopters assigned to the Okanagan Complex fires.

This wildfire brings tough working conditions for crews as it is in extremely steep, rocky terrain with no shade and direct sun exposure, says BC Wildfire Service.

Yesterday, crews focused their attention on the north flank to increase containment and extinguish hot spots. Today, the main goal is for ground crews to work on the east side of this wildfire for further containment within this area.

(UPDATE: July 25 @ 9 a.m.) - Like all of the other Okanagan fires, the Goode's Creek wildfire has not shown any growth and remains at 577 hectares.

It's still classified as out of control, however, and a large number of crews continue to work on the smoldering fire.

"For objectives today, crews have been working on the east flank and are now pushing to the south flank," explained Marla Catherall, fire information officer. "The fire is working it's way through the small drainages, hitting unburnt fuels and creating columns of smoke."

"So we have had skimmers working last night and this morning, just cooling the area before moving the crews into the fire."

This wildfire is about 21 kilometres south of Kelowna.

No evacuation orders or alerts remain in place for this fire.

(UPDATE: July 24 @ 8:30 p.m.) - The fire has seen no growth since Monday night. There are 33 firefighters working on the fire along with skimmers that are actively working the southeast flank.

(UPDATE: July 24 @ 11 a.m.) - The Goode's Creek wildfire is still classified as out of control, but it remained at an estimated 577 hectares overnight.

"Crews will work on establishing water delivery. Mop up canyon spot," reads the latest update from BC Wildfire. "Crews are working in the area and running operations from the lake to hill, as well as mopping up."

"On the east side of the fire crews are working on the southeast flank building guard."

There are 33 firefighters battling the blaze today with air support on scene as needed.

Any evacuation alerts relating to this fire have long since been rescinded.

(UPDATE: July 23 @ 9:39 p.m.) - Monday proved detrimental to the Goode's Creek wildfire as it grew from approximately 400 hectares to an estimated 577 hectares.

23 firefighters were enlisted to the fire today focusing on extinguishing hot spots on the southeast flank of the fire.

There are no evacuation or orders currently in place for the Goode's Creek wildfire.

Two other fires are also burning on the southwest bank of Okanagan Mountain Provincial Park: the Paradise Ranch wildfire and the Glenfir Road fire.

Paradise Ranch was discovered on Thursday and is currently active at an estimated 55 hectares with no suspected cause. The Glenfir Road fire was discovered on Tuesday from a suspected lightning strike and is approximately 25 hectares in size.

(UPDATE: July 23 @ 11:45 a.m.) - They say no news is good news and that certainly seems like the case here.

The Goode's Creek wildfire in Okanagan Mountain Park remains at 400 hectares, the same size it has been since Thursday.

BC Wildfire's latest update, from Monday morning, showed no changes to the amount of personnel or strategy for fighting the fire, which appears to only be smouldering at this point.

There's also no more evacuation alerts in place for this fire, as they were removed over the weekend.

Although it looks like the threat from this fire virtually gone at this point, NowMedia will continue to update this story until it's 100% contained or out.

(UPDATE: July 22 @ 9 a.m.) - The Goode's Creek wildfire is still estimated at 400 hectares this morning, having had minimal growth over the last 24 hours.

According to BC Wildfire Service, smoke can be seen but it remains within the fire perimeter.

Today, crews consist of 20 firefighter personnel, who are building hand guards and continuing to extinguish hot spots.

Air support will continue to assist throughout the day.

(UPDATE: July 21 @ 9 a.m.) - The Goode's Creek wildfire is still estimated at 400 hectares this morning.

The BC Wildfire Service says this fire is now burning in old burn.

"This makes it less likely to exhibit the extreme fire behavior consistent with big timber fuels," says BC Wildfire Service. "The fire burned up and away from the residences today."

They add that the fire was emitting a lot of smoke today, which blew toward Kelowna.

"Please note that the amount of smoke does not reflect any sort of extreme fire behavior," says BC Wildfire Service.

Today, 21 personnel will be working the flanks of the fires and constructing control lines. Air support is available if needed.

Evacuation alerts have been rescinded for this fire. Click here for more information.

(UPDATE: July 20 @ 10:25 a.m.) - Wind is proving to be the biggest challenge for crews fighting the Goode's Creek wildfire.

The BC Wildfire Service has 21 personnel and helicopter support fighting the 400-hectare blaze, which is burning in Okanagan Mountain Park near Kelowna.

Air tankers are also on standby and will be deployed if necessary, but those resources are mainly focused on the Mount Eneas wildfire at this time.

It was an earlier start for air support today as the wind has picked up at 6 p.m. the past couple of nights, making flying conditions hazardous.

There are some evacuation alerts still in place at the south end of Lakeshore Road, which you can learn more about by clicking this link.

(UPDATE: July 19 @ 8:14 p.m.) - BC Wildfire has confirmed the Goode's Creek fire has grown from 340 to 400 hectares.

"We had air support on it today and I know the winds have picked up," said Noelle Kekula, Recreation Officer for Kamloops Recreation District.

Air support and crews on the ground continue to fight this fire. Evacuation alerts are still in place.

(UPDATE: July 19, 2018 @ 3:30 p.m.) - BC Wildfire now has an estimated size for the Goode's Creek wildfire near Okanagan Mountain Park.

The fire is about 340 hectares in size. Helicopters are bucketing on this fire and additional resources are en route to the fire today, says BC Wildfire.

Today's fire suppression activities will focus on the area near Lakeshore Road. The fire is considered to be interface at this time.

(Original Story)

The BC Wildfire Service is unable to get a new size estimate on the Goode's Creek wildfire.

It has grown since being last measured at 200 hectares on Wednesday night, but BC Wildfire hasn't gotten the new numbers from the front line yet.

"The fire has grown since our last estimate was completed and a new estimate will be shared on this page as soon as it's available," it reads online.

Helicopters will attack the fire with water buckets today and additional resources are on the way.

Suppression efforts are currently focused on the area near Lakeshore Road at the south end of Kelowna.

There have been evacuation alerts made as a result of this interface fire, which you can find out more on by clicking this link.

NowMedia will continue to update this story as more information is made available.