Westside Road about 5k N of Lk Okanagan Resort

[Not Bob]

Anyone hear about the % contained, from my view it is hard to tell, looks like it grew quit abit to the south though.

[madadam]

Smoke at the north end of the fire over the last few minutes was being pushed south by wind. Plus the smoke is now dropping down to the lake making it hard to see.

At the bottom of the smoke in the middle they were using an old road earlier for access, had 3 pickups there but now the fire has spread down past the road.

Not Bob:
Last updated: Wednesday, July 22, 2015 at 2:21 PM
Size: 430.0 hectares (estimated)

Status: Active
• 0% contained
This morning, fire activity steadily increased, peaking in the early afternoon with an active surface and crown fire. While fire activity experienced a slight reprieve later in the day, a shift in winds pushed fire activity downslope in the early evening. Structural protection firefighters along with BC Wildfire Service crews are monitoring this area and will remain on site overnight to protect nearby values. The Evacuation Order, issued by the Central Okanagan Regional District, is still in effect. This Order is affecting 70 properties in the area. More information is available at: http://www.cordemergency.ca

[madadam]

Slightly stronger winds from the north pushing the smoke south.

[trapp]

You will not see heli action when fixed wing aircraft are working or anticipated in the short term. Heli action is used as support for ground crews or to hold established guards or cool down spots where the crews are progressing fire guards. It is money wasted to just dump on the leading edge where there can be no follow up of crews or crews would be put in danger working there. Water is a short term retardant and dries up very quickly. No one tool is an end all in controlling a large fire in these condition. There are goals and objectives set daily in accordance with anticipated fire behavior and crew safety. Resources are used as necessary to achieve those goals and objectives.

With the number of fires in the south half of the province there are a limited number of rotary wing aircraft available. It is imperative to use some of those resources to maintain initial attack capabilities for new fires and perhaps reassign some to keep new starts in check as quick as possible.

[madadam]

Latest:

[Frisk]

There's pyrocumulus clouds forming above the fire which is a really obvious sign of aggressive fire activity.

[Frisk]

Does anyone else see a lot of smoke below rose valley?

[Frisk]

Does anyone else see a lot of smoke below rose valley?

I think it's blowing in from shelter cove. The wind has shifted south.

[Drip_Torch]

You will not see heli action when fixed wing aircraft are working or anticipated in the short term. Heli action is used as support for ground crews or to hold established guards or cool down spots where the crews are progressing fire guards. It is money wasted to just dump on the leading edge where there can be no follow up of crews or crews would be put in danger working there. Water is a short term retardant and dries up very quickly. No one tool is an end all in controlling a large fire in these condition. There are goals and objectives set daily in accordance with anticipated fire behavior and crew safety. Resources are used as necessary to achieve those goals and objectives.

With the number of fires in the south half of the province there are a limited number of rotary wing aircraft available. It is imperative to use some of those resources to maintain initial attack capabilities for new fires and perhaps reassign some to keep new starts in check as quick as possible.

Well put, and not to belabour the point, but water isn't even an effective short term retardant - unless you can keep pumping it on, like we do with the SPU's. Still it is a very good suppressant, and when utilized correctly, it creates one the best and most effective retardants known to man.

Cold black.

That's the same condition we attempt to emulate with the long term retardants. The "red stuff" creates a chemical reaction with the surface layer of the fuel, causing it to gas off, which in turn, inhibits pyrolysis ( the thermochemical decomposition of organic material). No pyrolysis - no flames.

"No one tool is an end all in controlling a large fire in these conditions." - exactly.

[madadam]

According to forestry channel talk theres 2 maybe 3 helis heading to 391 (this fire) to start bucketing.

[madadam]

Forestry official at 391 is setting up the other ones to start bucketing and then he is leaving to check out smoke reported by RCMP around Black Knight mountain.

[madadam]

Nothing was found around black Knight Mountain.

Helis are bucketing the south flank of the fire, dropping on open flames middle of the mountain and along the south edge of the smoke column.

[madadam]

Forestry official at fire 391 has requested that the skimmers come to "cool the smoke column" on the south flank. Bucketing on same area to continue until they arrive.

[tsayta]

Wind:
NNW 17 gust 30 km/h

Not great. Pushing south?

[madadam]

Wind:
NNW 17 gust 30 km/h

Not great. Pushing south?

Yup, not a strong north wind but it is still pushing the smoke south. Too sunny and smokey to get a pic.