Crews are responding to a newly reported hot spot in the Bradley Creek wildfire complex northwest of the intersection of Irish Creek Road South and Westside Road, local Indigenous authorities said Thursday as firefighting and assessment work continued near Vernon.
Immediate response and public safety advice
The Okanagan Indian Band (OKIB) notified residents Thursday afternoon that BC Wildfire teams have been alerted and are en route to the area. Authorities asked people to avoid the site while crews assess and extinguish remaining heat.
“Boaters are asked to please keep clear of the lake. If firefighting aircraft are nearby, clear the area immediately and stay near the shore to avoid interfering with operations and to prevent putting responder lives at risk.”
BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) issued its own update, warning that weather conditions expected later in the day could increase fire behaviour. Officials said warmer temperatures and lower humidity during the afternoon may make smouldering pockets more active, particularly after smoke from neighbouring blazes lifts and visibility improves.
What crews are doing now
In the short term, BCWS crews are patrolling and performing mop-up work along the northern and southern flanks of the fire, working approximately 100 feet in from the edge to extinguish residual heat. Over coming days, crews plan to progress deeper into the perimeter to locate and put out remaining hotspots.
- Patrol and mop-up: ongoing along northern and southern flanks, with crews extinguishing heat within roughly 100 feet of the perimeter.
- Control-line construction: work along Newport Creek is advancing northeast toward Irish Creek Road.
- Infrastructure assessments: BC Hydro crews are re-energizing powerlines and evaluating danger trees along Westside Road.
The fire complex includes the Bradley Creek and Quilpituk Creek incidents; smoke and changing wind or humidity can make smaller, deep-burning pockets of heat more visible once the thick regional haze clears.
Timeline of recent updates
| Time | Update |
|---|---|
| 8:12 a.m. | BCWS warned smoke may clear by mid-morning and said afternoon conditions could increase fire activity; crews to continue patrol and mop-up. |
| 5:40 p.m. | OKIB reported a hot spot northwest of Irish Creek Rd S and Westside Rd; BC Wildfire crews notified and resources dispatched. |
BC Hydro work along Westside Road remains active, as crews re-energize lines and assess danger trees near infrastructure. The fire is reported to be surrounded by guard, and personnel will continue to monitor and patrol control lines as conditions require.
Residents in Vernon and the surrounding Westside area should expect visible smoke periodically as crews continue direct attack and mop-up operations. Officials said smoke may remain visible for days while crews locate and extinguish deep-burning hotspots inside the fire perimeter.
For now, the priorities are public safety and supporting firefighting operations. Boat traffic near the lake is being restricted during active aircraft operations to ensure air crews can work without interference. Authorities have promised further updates as information becomes available.
Local residents who see new smoke, flames or other hazards are asked to report them to BC Wildfire Service and to follow guidance from the Okanagan Indian Band and provincial authorities.
