Okanagan Firestorm Update

By Duane Grandbois

Jul 20, 2018 | 4:06 PM

Picture: BC Wildfire Service – Mt Eneas wildfire & Munro Lake FSR wildfire

Updated 7am July 21

Friday afternoon at approximately 4:19 PM, the Kelowna Fire Department was dispatched to a grass fire on Knox Mountain.

Three Engines, three Bush Trucks, one Tender attended the scene. A total of twenty five KFD personnel.

Upon arrival, crews reported the fire to be about 150′ X 150′ and starting to get into the trees.

BC Forestry assisted with three helicopters dropping water on the fire. No structures were in danger and the fire was fully contained at 5:13 PM. Crews remain on scene suppressing hot spots.

The cause of the fire is undetermined at this time and is being investigated by both Kelowna Fire Department and RCMP.

1.5 Hectare Blaze

Crews battling wildfire near Cherryville

A few moments ago

Too Hot for Dogs

Don't leave pets alone in hot vehicles: RCMP

56m ago

Smoky Skies

Air quality warning issued for the Okanagan

2h ago

The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen has issued an evacuation alert for 49 properties in the Meadow Valley area.

Updated 12 Noon July 20

The BC Wildfire Service has 10 firefighters working what’s left of the Upper Brookside Creek fire at the end of Hartnell Road in the BX area of Vernon.

They’ll be hosing down hot spots and cleaning up the perimeter to ensure it doesn’t flare up again.

It will likely be declared held and of little concern in the next day or so.

Meanwhile, the one hectare Trinity Valley fire is considered held with no anticipation of growth.

Twelve firefighters were working on it this morning.

The fire is about 16 kilometres Southeast of Enderby.

No change so far today in the size of the most serious fires.

The Mt Eneas fire 4 kilometres south of Peachland is still estimated at 1,000 hectares.

The BC Wildfire Service classifies the fire as remaining out of control, as it now encompasses a number of fires in the area on the west side of Okanagan Lake.

Numerous personnel are being assigned to fight the fire today, including multiple helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft.

All available resources are being applied to the fires in our area on a priority basis.

A total of 1,735 individuals are affected by the blaze, with 41 properties on evacuation order and 656 properties on evacuation alert.

The Good Creek fire has covered approximately 400-hectares.

It’s anticipated these estimates will be updated by BC Wildfire Service later today along with a plan of attack and resources.

Three properties that were under evacuation orders have been changed to evacuation alerts.

Properties at 303, 305 and 307 Log Chute Road have been changed to evacuation alert, meaning those residents can return to their property but must be prepared to leave at a moment’s notice.

There have not been any new Evacuation Alerts and Orders and all previous ones remain in effect.

The status of these will be reviewed later today.

The Emergency Support Services reception centre for evacuated residents is located at the Lakeview Heights Baptist Church, 2630 Alhambra Drive in West Kelowna.

Boaters are asked to stay clear of any aircraft crews involved in the fire fighting efforts utilizing Okanagan Lake.

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Hundreds more people are on evacuation alert as wildfires continue to rage in the Central Okanagan.

The Good Creek wildfire burning in Okanagan Mountain Park in Kelowna is now estimated at 400 hectares

The Mt Eneas wildfire, burning approximately four kilometres south of Peachland, is now estimated at 1000 hectares. This increase in size is due to improved mapping and growth.

The fire has forced trhe evacuation of at least 120 properties with may more on alert.

Yesterday, 57 personnel, 1 piece of heavy equipment, air tankers and helicopters were fighting it.

An Evacuation Alert has been issued for 198 properties in the upper Glenrosa area of West Kelowna due to the Law Creek wildfire.

Approximately 495 residents are affected and should be ready to leave their homes on short notice for an extended period of time because of the potential threat from the blaze.

The BC Wildfire Service estimates this fire is about eight hectares in size.

All properties on streets west of Gates Road (including the west side of Gates Road and Glenrosa Road west of Gates Road) are affected by the Evacuation Alert including: Carre Road, Chesea Court, Corine Road, Corral Court, Emerald Road, Fenton Road, Gill Road, McKellar Road, Preston Road, Regent Road, Stonegate Court and Turnbull Road.

A State of Local Emergency has been declared in the District of Peachland and an Evacuation Alert issued for 596 properties south of Princeton Avenue east to Highway 97.

This affects approximately 1,490 residents.

The following addresses and streets are affected by the Evacuation Alert:
“6107 – 6146 AITKENS RD
“4720 – 4728 BLACKSMITH PL
“6205 – 6230 BONNIE LANE
“6272 – 6590 BULYEA AVE
“6148 – 6178 DAVIES CRES
“4948 – 5079 ELLIOTT AVE
“6503 – 6551 FERGUSON PL
“6093 – 6212 GUMMOW RD
“6040 – 6054 HAWKES ST
“6201 – 6265 HEIGHWAY LANE
“5920 – 6663 HIGHWAY 97
“5247 INGA ST
“6400 -6493 KEYES AVE
“6106 – 6266 LIPSETT AVE
“6421 – 6465 MACK RD
“5440 – 5463 MCDOUGALD RD
“6229 – 6261 MILLER RD
“5420 – 5443 PIERCE PL
“5357 – 5495 PIERCE ST
“5960 – 5976 PRINCESS ST
“4525 – 5379 PRINCETON AVE (odd addresses on south side)
“6472 – 6486 RENFREW CRT
“6226 – 6650 RENFREW RD
“RENFREW RD PARK CEMETERY
“6482 – 6568 SHERBURN RD
“6404 – 6439 STUART CRES
“6471 – 6485 STUART CRES S
“6267 SUNDSTROM CRT
“6306 – 6376 TOPHAM PL
“6363 – 6575 VERNON AVE
“6203 – 6297 WHINTON CRES
“6107 – 6192 WILSON RD
“6325 – 6391 YORK LANE

Also last evening three properties within the Central Okanagan West Electoral Area (303, 305 and 307 Log Chute Road were placed on evacuation order.

It’s affected by both the Mt Eneas fire and a fire along the Munro Lake Forest service Road.

Residents on evacuation order should leave their properties immediately and report to the Emergency Support Services reception centre at the Lakeview Heights Baptist Church, 2630 Alhambra Drive in West Kelowna.

At last word. Highway 97 between Peachland and Summerland was open to single-lane alternating traffic with a police escort.

Delays should be expected.

by Duane Grandbois