No ER in Oliver Saturday morning 5:00am to Noon

 https://www.castanet.net/news/Oliver-Osoyoos/566992/Oliver-hospital-emergency-department-to-close-for-Saturday-morning

Congratulations Urs Grob - 10 years as Chief of the Anarchist Mountain Fire Department

 

Chief Grob recognised by the AMFD for his leadership and service. At Baldy, he has helped out in the past on the patrol and electrical side of things. I do have a photo or two of him in a patrol jacket, but he looks more distinguished in the AMFD uniform.

The Tyee and Wildfire - Well worth the read - and a personal rant.

https://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2025/08/14/Wildfires-Five-Things-We-Can-Do/?utm_source=daily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=140825

Vast swaths of timber incinerate each year. My thoughts are that selective thinning and other forest practices that can reduce the intensity of wildfire, is a better option than leaving things intact and watching it burn.

As the prescription is developed for the spacing adjacent to the Baldy Road, I can't help but think that more widespread spacing could be justified. When the logs were decked from the fuel mod fire break near the ski area, I was taken on a tour. Many of those logs were already "denim pine." Sooner or later, the die off that is rampant in our village will be more obvious down the road. Would it be more economical to selectively log more of that down hill forest while it is merchantable timber? 

My grandmother's brother, and 3 more generations of his family have been loggers at the coast for a very long time. When they held all the timber rights to a particular Island, I was given a tour around 1980. I was shown blocks where the first generation had logged, some of which had already been logged again by the second or third generation. The regeneration rate on the coast was astounding at the time. I acknowledge that a lot has changed since 1980.

As I drive to Kelowna on Hwy 33, I see more lots being developed in forested areas. As previously noted, there are also water totes and buckets at the side of the highway where property owners are tired of seeing roadside fire starts.

When our village was laid out, the vision was for lots of trees. That was many decades ago. There are things we can do to protect our homes and investment. What is it going to take to get more owners to wake up and do something?

The FireSmart information is all available online. Free assessments and rebate grants have been on the table for some time. The dead trees in the village are not only fuel, but they are in danger of hitting your home and doing damage.

New buildings in our area require FireSmart exterior finishes.

I discussed our current situation with an area tree removal contractor. I asked him what he thought it would take to kick start FireSmart again in our community. His reply, another fire.

Trees are snapping and coming down in the village more often now.

Many of the absentee owners with their heads in the sand do not read this blog, particularly in the summer. So now you have seen another rant, and the people who most need to read it, probably won't.

Clouds on a Windy Afternoon

 

Wildfire near Osoyoos - Held

Quick response, great work, fire "being held." Flight Aware showed last heli returning to Penticton a short while ago.

It would not be a fire season without something between the Industrial Park and the Kobau turn off.

https://www.timeschronicle.ca/fast-moving-wildfire-near-osoyoos-industrial-park-closes-hwy-3/

Photo courtesy BC Wildfire

BC Wildfire Service

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We are currently responding to the Conifryd Creek (K51497) wildfire, which is located approximately six kilometres northwest of Osoyoos and east of Highway 3.

The wildfire is currently estimated to be 7.5 hectares in size and displaying Rank 1 fire behaviour, which means a smouldering ground fire.

There are currently 22 ground personnel responding. Aerial resources assisted ground crews but have completed their objectives for the evening. This wildfire is suspected human-caused.

For any information on road impacts please visit www.drivebc.ca/

For more information on this wildfire visit: https://wildfiresituation.nrs.gov.bc.ca/incidents... 

Comments

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GEN 7 Customer Appreciation

 Get a GEN 7 loyalty card. Sign up for an online account. Get an e-mail hint like I did yesterday, filled up today for $1.00 per litre. Line ups and traffic control from 11:00 to 4:00. I didn't go inside to see what the other specials were, no where to park!

Air Resources Deployed to Hwy 33 Fire near Goudie Road

https://www.castanet.net/news/Kelowna/565930/Fire-crews-responding-to-fire-burning-off-Highway-33 

This appears to be north of where many of us have seen homeowner water totes and buckets along Hwy 33.

Saturday Night, another ER closure at SOGH

 https://www.castanet.net/news/Oliver-Osoyoos/565856/Temporary-service-interruption-at-South-Okanagan-General-Hospital-emergency-department

Seasons

It is early August, but there are a few signs that we may have an early fall.

• Season Pass prices go up in price soon
• First mice caught in a cabin. ( not mine )
• valley dwellers starting to haul wood down toward Oliver
• multiple cool, cloudy days (we are happy to get the moisture)
• cooler evenings

If  you haven't been up since ski season, best to walk around your place before settling in. There are bent chimneys and dead trees. We have been fortunate so far this fire season, but that is no reason to ignore FireSmart work on our properties.

SOGH ER Closure Again

 https://www.castanet.net/news/Oliver-Osoyoos/565710/South-Okanagan-General-Hospital-emergency-department-closing-overnight-Friday

They need to get a new file photo for these stories. The pick-up in the background belonged to someone who retired a long time ago.