Update 9:30 am
It’s a hot dry day for the firefight at the Philpott Road wildfire in The Joe Rich area of East Kelowna.
The fire is still 465 hectares and 20 per cent contained.
BC Wildfire Service information office Noelle Kekula says firefighters have been working on developing more control lines on the East, West and North flanks.
“We’re burning a bit of the unburnt fuels between the control lines and the perimeter to reinforce that control line to try to get some more containment.”
Kekula says they can’t say the fire is held and the hotter temperatures make it tough.
“So far, It has stayed within. It is hot and dry and the forecast is for the hot and dry to continue so we are still very cautious.”
Four helicopters are doing water drops and other air support can be called in if need be.
Noelle Kekula adds the fire still has its challenges.
“It’s steep ground. there’s a lot of things in the area. We’ve got infrastructure there.”
No homes have been burned.
Two hundred properties still remain on evacuation order and Highway 33 remains closed.
Approximately 90 firefighters from several central and south Okanagan fire departments are working the Philpott Road wildfire in Kelowna’s Joe Rich area.
They’re joined by crews from the BC Wildfire service working on protecting homes and buildings throughout the fire area using almost two dozen trucks and water tenders.
The Evacuation Order remains in place affecting approximately 600 residents from just over 200 properties.
Another 600 residents from 263 properties were allowed to return to their homes yesterday and remain under an Evacuation Alert.
Other than household pets, like cats and dogs, animals are not allowed back in at this time, due to the uncertainty about fire behaviour and the potential for Evacuation Orders to be re-instated if necessary.
Residents on the Falcon Ridge water system are restricted to household use only – no irrigation permitted to preserve water supply to fight the fire.
The Emergency Support Services reception centre at Willow Park Church along Highway 33 in Kelowna will be open today from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Highway 33 remains closed this morning.
The latest information can be found at Drive BC http://www.drivebc.ca
