West Kelowna and Penticton urgent care centres are extending their hours this weekend to support people affected by the Bald Range wildfire.West Kelowna will be open 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., while Penticton will be open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.Both centres provide same-day, non-emergency care, helping peopl...

Some Westside Road residents are back home after a phased re-entry was announced Friday morning for properties affected by the Quilpituk Creek wildfire south of Fintry along Westside Road.Peachland residents who left their homes because of the Bald Range wildfire also return, with the evacuation order changing to an al...

Kelowna RCMP are asking for the public's help to locate a 33-year-old woman who has been reported missing.Bianca Cornale was reported missing Aug. 8 and was last seen July 24 in the Rutland area of Kelowna.Police believe Cornale may be travelling in the North Okanagan with an associate and could be staying in a white G...

Kelowna residents are being encouraged to add a tree to their property this fall through the City's NeighbourWoods program.Seven FireSmart varieties are available for $50 plus GST each, with residents allowed to purchase up to two trees.The City says planting more trees will help provide shade, cool neighbourhoods and ...

The Kelowna Fire Department is urging residents and visitors to use extreme caution in city parks and natural areas as dry conditions keep wildfire danger elevated.Vegetation in many parks and open spaces is increasingly dry, meaning even a small ignition source could quickly spark a wildfire.Assistant Fire Chief Denni...

The wildfire in the Okanagan Indian Band lands is still being held, though there was a risk of some flare-ups Friday.The B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS) said the fire was contained and still estimated at 2,658.1 hectares as of Aug. 14.However, the BCWS warned that sunny and hot weather could dry out fuels Friday, and that...

The evacuation alert issued for properties south of Cinnabar Creek, including Wilsons Landing and surrounding rural areas, has been lifted.Central Okanagan Emergency Management issued the alert Aug. 6 because of increased fire activity associated with the Quilpituk Creek wildfire.The alert covered properties along Nort...

The situation is improving on the Quilpituk Creek wildfire near Westside Road.Evacuation Orders for all properties from Cinnabar Creek to Westshore Estates have been downgraded to Alerts.And evacuation alerts for properties south of Cinnabar Creek, including Wilson's Landing, have been lifted.The changes are a positive...

West Kelowna Fire Chief Jason Brolund is urging residents to stay FireSmart as crews continue helping other communities while remaining ready at home.Brolund says residents, businesses and visitors should clear wildfire hazards around their properties, including wood piles, cedar hedges and dry debris."Let's do al...

A swimming advisory is now in effect for the south portion of Rotary Beach in Kelowna.The beach remains open, but residents are being asked to avoid swimming and other water activities until water quality improves."We're asking people not to swim here until the advisory is lifted," said Water Operations Manag...

The wildfire burning south of Fintry was classified as 'being held' Thursday. The designation Aug. 13 indicated the fire was unlikely to spread beyond the current perimeter.The B.C. Wildfire Service said it was continuing work at the site of the 1,275.7 hectare blaze. That consisted of mopping up hot spots along Westsi...

Extreme drought conditions continue to persist in the Okanagan.The B.C. River Forecast Centre said Thursday, August 13, that the region was at Drought Level 5 with a High Water Scarcity Level, both of which were the highest ratings on their respective scales.The agency's weekly report stated concerns of limited to no w...

More temporary access permits are expected today for people in the evacuated Summerland area of the Bald Range wildfire. Requests will be prioritized based on need, with lower-priority cases now being considered.Officials say the wildfire remains dangerous, and more work is needed before residents can return, including...

The Quilpituk Creek Wildfire near La Casa is now being held, meaning it is expected to stay within its current boundaries.The Emergency Operations Centre is sending crews to check homes and other areas for dangers before residents can return.Crews will look for hazards such as dangerous trees, damaged power lines and o...

Kelowna Made, a family-friendly festival featuring local vendors, food, entertainment and rides, has been cancelled.The event, started in 2022, was scheduled for this weekend at Kelowna City Park but was called off because of wildfires, poor air quality and pressure on emergency resources.Mayor Tom Dyas says the cancel...

Eligible Kelowna voters can pre-register for October's local election, with advance registration closing August 18th.For the first time, the city is using the B.C. voters list to speed up check-in and reduce wait times on voting day.People who miss the deadline can still register in person at a voting location.

Kelowna Rockets forward Shane Smith has signed an American Hockey League contract with the Henderson Silver Knights, the AHL affiliate of the NHL's Vegas Golden Knights.Smith, 21, joined the Rockets in November 2025 after being acquired from the Lethbridge Hurricanes in a trade that also brought forward Vojtech Cihar t...

Premier David Eby is scheduled to speak in Penticton this afternoon as the province continues responding to the Bald Range wildfire near Summerland.Eby will hold a media availability with local officials at Penticton Council Chambers at 3:15 p.m.Emergency Management and Climate Readiness Minister Kelly Greene and Penti...

Kelowna-Mission MLA Gavin Dew is joining B.C. Conservatives calling on the NDP government to scrap its expansion of the provincial sales tax.The call comes after the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services recommended the government repeal the 2026 PST expansion.Dew, the B.C. Conservatives' Critic ...

It is day six of the Bald Range wildfire near Summerland, and crews are facing more tough conditions as they work to stop the fire from spreading.About 20,000 people were forced to leave Summerland on Friday. Many are still waiting to find out if their homes are still standing.Officials say they are not ready to give a...

Mission Creek Greenway will be closed at KLO Road from Wednesday through Friday for final bridge project work.Crews will finish drainage work and trail improvements under the bridge.People using the Greenway will need to take another route and allow extra travel time.

Officials are warning of a high potential for lightning-caused wildfire starts across the Okanagan in the coming days.B.C. Wildfire Service says the Bradley Creek fire near Vernon, Bald Range near Summerland and Quilpituk Creek near La Casa are showing explosive behaviour.Officials say smoke is hurting air quality but ...

The West Kelowna Urgent and Primary Care Centre is opening early this week to help meet increased health-care needs in the Central Okanagan, including communities affected by the Bald Range wildfire.The centre will open at 9:30 a.m. each day through Friday, Aug. 14, two hours earlier than its regular opening time.The W...

The province has taken steps to secure accommodation for Summerland residents forced from their homes.The B.C. Government said it had secured over 1,000 hotel rooms in Penticton, West Kelowna and Kelowna for people displaced due to the Bald Range wildfire, adding it had more blocks booked for when those spaces become a...

An arrest has been made in connection to a suspicious fire lit in Salmon Arm that threatened a business.Shortly before 6 p.m. Saturday, August 8, police responded to a report of a bush on fire in the 300-block of Trans Canada Highway SW.Mounties arrived on scene and found a bush fully engulfed in flames and threatening...

A shooting in Salmon Arm led to three people being arrested at a Sicamous residence.At around 5:21 p.m. Saturday, August 8, police responded to reports of a shooting in the 300-block of Fraser Avenue NW.The victim reportedly sought help in a nearby business while the suspects fled the scene in a white pickup truck.The ...

A retired Kelowna teacher has donated $20,000 toward an effort to protect one of the last privately owned properties within Myra-Bellevue Park.The anonymous donor is among hundreds of first-time donors who have stepped forward to support the BC Parks Foundation campaign, which is now in its final days.The foundation ne...

Yet another wildfire has sparked south of Kelowna.The B.C. Wildfire Service said lightning ignited a 1.1 hectare wildfire near Lower Barge Lake, about seven kilometres west of Highway 33.The BCWS responded Monday, August 10, with airtankers that boxed in the site with retardant.Following that the provincial firefightin...