White Rock Lake Fire as of Aug. 1. (Photo credit: BC Wildfire Service)

By Pete McIntyre

UPDATE

White Lake Fire showing ‘aggressive behaviour’

Aug 4, 2021 | 2:50 PM

Central Okanagan Emergency Operations is reporting the White Rock Lake Fire is showing aggressive behaviour today.

The agency says while there is currently no change in the evacuation orders or alerts, residents in alert areas should be prepared to leave on short notice if conditions in the area change.

Earlier today, the BC Wildfire Service said the fire was burning 8.5 kilometres west of Westside Road, (northwest of Vernon), which is more than 6 kilometres closer than what was reported Tuesday.

The Wildfire Service lists the fire as out of control, and estimates the size as 32,500 hectares.

The current evacuation order for the Central Okanagan affects 544 properties in the Westshore Estates subdivision off Westside Road and rural areas to the west.

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Another 2,400 properties in the Central Okanagan Regional District along Westside Road are under evacuation alert, south of Westshore Estates to the Bear Lake Main Forest Service Road intersection just north of Traders Cove. The alert area also includes all public lands located north of Bear and Esperon Forest Service Road.

An evacuation order from the Thompson-Nicola Regional District (TNRD) covers 85 properties while an evacuation alert is in effect for 651 properties.

Ten properties in the Columbia-Shuswap Regional District (CSRD) are under evacuation order, with another 608 properties on evacuation alert.

The Regional District of North Okanagan (RDNO) has 32 properties on evacuation order and 14 more on alert.

On August 1, the Okanagan Indian Band (OKIB) partially upgraded an evacuation alert to an evacuation order for areas below the Whiteman Creek drainage, south of the Mud Hole, including Parker Cove and Whiteman subdivision. The existing evacuation alert for the remainder of OKIB IR#1 Reserve up to Newport Beach remains still in place.

Westside Road is closed between Pinecrest Road and Six Mile Creek Road for 8.4 km (38 to 46 km east of West Kelowna), with traffic control and no inbound entry.

If leaving your home due to a wildfire and it is safe, take the following action:

• Close all windows and doors in the house.
• Cover vents, windows, and other openings of the house with duct tape and/or precut pieces of plywood.
• Park your car, positioned forward out of the driveway. Keep car windows closed and have your valuables already packed in your car.
• Turn off propane or natural gas. Move any propane barbeques into the open, away from structures.
• Turn on the lights in the house, porch, garage and yard.
• Inside the house, move combustible materials such as light curtains and furniture away from the windows.
• Move all combustibles away from the house, including firewood and lawn furniture.
• Evacuate your family and pets to a safe location.