In a little over a month, on July 9th, 2021, it will be the 2-year anniversary of a fire that raged just south of Vernon. The fire burned along Highway 97, a little north of the Birnie landfill, and its flames were visible for kilometers.
The residents of Clerke Road were evacuated while Vernon Fire Rescue, Coldstream Fire, and the BC Wildfire Service tried to get the flames under control.
For the residents of Coldstream and Vernon it was a terrifying site.
Fortunately, the winds were on the firefighters' side, blowing the flames up and away from people and their homes.
This event marked the beginning of what would become one of BC's worst fire seasons on record.
With the help of RCMP officers, residences on Commonage Road, downwind from the wildland flames, were put on evacuation alert.
The Districts of Coldstream and Vernon activated their Emergency Operations Centres.
Coldstream opened its Emergency Support Services Centre at the District of Coldstream Municipal Hall.
Fortunately there were no reports of injuries or structures lost.
Tags: When Wildland Fire Raged Just South Of Vernon, A look Back