Wildfire East Of Kelowna 380 Hectares; 1,100 Residents Under Evacuation Order

Update 5 am Aug 25 Tom Mark

At last word, the Joe Rich fire was estimated at 380 hectares in size.

There’s no word yet this morning if it grew overnight.

Roughly 11 hundred people from 474 properties were evacuated from the area after the fire broke out yesterday afternoon.

Fire fighters from 10 departments up and down the valley showed up to help and BC Wildfire sent in additional crews, equipment, 4 helicopters and air tankers.

Water trucks have had to bring in water as there are no hydrants in the fire area.

Structural firefighters from five Central Okanagan departments and ten other fire departments across the Okanagan and interior monitored the fire overnight, attacking hot spots.

They’re being supported on the ground by BC Wildfire Service firefighters.

At this point, there is no report of any structures having been burned.

Highway 33 remained closed overnight from the Gallaghers Road intersection on the City of Kelowna to Big White Road.

Update 7:40 pm

Philpott Road Fire News Release #4

The latest BC Wildfire Service estimate puts the Philpott Road fire at 380-hectares.

BC Wildfire ground and air crews are working along the fire lines, while structural fire crews from Central Okanagan fire departments in Joe Rich, Ellison, Kelowna, Lake Country and Peachland are on the ground.

As well, crews from ten fire departments from throughout the Central and Southern interior are supporting the ground level structural fire fight.

There’s no change in the previously issued Evacuation Order affecting about 1,100 people from 474 properties.

Highway 33 will remain closed overnight between Gallaghers Road in Kelowna and Big White Road as crews continue to fight the Philpott Road wildfire.

If people must travel a detour is available around the closure, for non-commercial passenger vehicles only, via McCulloch Road.

Information about the highway closure and detour route is available on the Drive BC website www.drivebc.ca.

Emergency Support Services volunteers are helping evacuated residents at the reception centre in Willow Park Church, 439 Highway 33 West in Kelowna.  The centre will remain open until 10 tonight and will reopen at 10 Friday morning.

Update: 5:15 pm:

Philpott Road Fire News Release #3

BC Wildfire estimates the Philpott Road wildfire is 300-hectares in size.  It was reported shortly after 1:30 this afternoon in the area of Highway 33 and Philpott Road in the mostly rural area of Joe Rich in the Central Okanagan East Electoral Area of the Regional District of Central Okanagan.

The Evacuation Order affects 474 properties from the western boundary of the City of Kelowna to Big White Road and Mission and Joe Rich creeks along the south.

A detailed map showing the affected properties within the Evacuation Order area is available at www.cordemergency.ca.

Joe Rich, Kelowna, Ellison and Lake Country structural firefighters are fighting the wildfire along with crews from the BC Wildfire Service.

Highway 33 is closed from the Gallaghers Road intersection on the City of Kelowna to Big White Road.  For the latest status please check www.drivebc.ca.

The Emergency Support Services reception centre is now open to assist the estimated 1,100 people on Evacuation Order. The centre is located at Willow Park Church, 439 Highway 33 West in Kelowna. Volunteers are on hand to provide people with accommodation and other needs. As well, volunteers with the ALERT organization are helping those residents with their domestic animals.

Update: 5 pm

The fire is now listed at 300 hectares according to the Central Okanagan Regional District.

Update 4:10 pm:

FortisBC has cut service to 2,500 customers in the Joe Rich area east of Kelowna due to a growing wildfire.

The natural gas supplier is working with emergency officials to assess damage from the Philpott Road Fire and determine the impact on the FortisBC electricity system.

“Once the area has been made safe and the necessary repairs to FortisBC infrastructure has been made, we will have a clearer idea of the estimated restoration time’ says a Fortis release.

Update: 3:54 pm

Philpott Road Fire News Release #2

An Evacuation Order for the Philpott Road wildfire has been issued for the entire area of Joe Rich, from Walker Hill on the Highway 33 western boundary of the City of Kelowna to Big White Road to the east and Mission Creek and Joe Rich Creek along the south.

This affects approximately 474 properties and an estimated 1,100 people.

A detailed map showing the affected properties within the Evacuation Order area will be available at www.cordemergency.ca .

Structural fire crews from the Joe Rich, Kelowna, Ellison and Lake Country departments are involved in fighting the blaze that was reported shortly after 1:30 this afternoon.  As well, crews from the BC Wildfire Service are fighting the blaze.

An Emergency Support Services reception centre is being set up at Willow Park Church, 439 Highway 33 West in Kelowna.  ESS volunteers will be available starting at 5:00 pm to help affected residents.

Update 3:45 pm:

Evacuations are underway due to a growing wildfire in the Joe Rich area about 20 km’s east of Kelowna.

Melanie Morin from the BC Wildfire Service says it started around 1:30 pm in the area of Highway 33 and Philpott Road, about 20 km’s east of Kelowna.

She says the first report was 40 hectares, but that’s now grown to 150 hectares.

“It’s considered out of control.Structures are in the vicinity. The nearest structures are said to be about 3 kilometres away,” Morin tells Kiss FM

Local fire departments and provincial air and ground crews are actioning it.

The BX Swan Lake Department has been asked to send a truck and crew.

RCMP officers are performing emergency tactical evacuations of residents on 16 roads in the Joe Rich area (see list below).

Highway 33 has been closed between Goudie Road and Schram Road.

RCMP ask that the public avoid the area and plan a different route in order to assist in the safe evacuation of all affected residents.

The smoke from the fire is visible if you look south east of Vernon.

Update: 3:28 pm

RCMP officers are performing emergency tactical evacuations of residents in the Joe Rich area east of Kelowna due to a wildfire presently burning on the north side of Highway 33.

The following areas are being evacuated:

Goudie Road;
Huckleberry Road;
Daves Road;
Goshawk Road;
Hawk Road;
Falcon Road;
Falconridge Crescent;
Sun Valley Road;
Cardinal Creek Road;
Peregrine Road;
Philpott Forest Service Road;
Three Forks Road;
Thelwell Road;
Greystokes Road;
Dion Road; and
Schram Road;

In order to ensure public safety and the ability for emergency crews to access the area, RCMP have closed Highway 33 East in both directions between Goudie Road and Schram Road.

RCMP ask that the public avoid the area and plan a different route in order to assist in the safe evacuation of all affected residents.

Update 3 pm:

The Central Okanagan Regional District’s Emergency Operations Centre has been activated to support fire crews fighting a spreading wildfire in the Joe Rich area, about 20 km’s east of Kelowna.

An evacuation is underway for properties from Cardinal Creek Road to the eastern boundary of the Regional District.  Properties east of Greystokes Road must evacuate via McCulloch Road.  A detailed map will be available showing affected properties at www.cordemergency.ca.

All properties west of Cardinal Creek Road are on evacuation alert and should be prepared to leave on short notice should conditions change.

An Emergency Support Services reception centre is being established at Willow Park church on Highway 33 in Kelowna.  It will be open to help residents starting at 5 pm.

Highway 33 is closed at Cardinal Creek Road as ground and air crews are involved in fighting the blaze that was reported shortly after 1:30 this afternoon.

Update: 2:35 pm

A new wildfire has broken out in the Joe Rich area east of Kelowna.

Melanie Morin from the BC Wildfire Service says it’s burning in the Highway 33 and Philpott Road area.

The BC Wildfire Service is responding to a wildfire near Highway 33 in the community of Joe Rich, about 20 km’s east of Kelowna. The fire is estimated at 40 hectares in size and is considered out of control at this time. Local fire departments are on site. We have initial attack resources and air support in the form of helicopters and air tankers which are en route and on scene. Structures are in the vicinity but they are not immediately threatened at this time,” Morin tells Kiss FM.

We are not aware of any evacuations at this point.

You can see the plume of thick smoke if you look south from Vernon.