Cool, wet weather made for a calm night on the fire lines last night.
Because of increased winds additional evacuation alerts were put in place and extra crews spent the night stationed in affected neighbourhoods, monitoring the McDougall Creek Wildfire. The wildfire did not affect any additional homes last night.
Fire fighting efforts are expected to continue over the coming weeks and the West Kelowna Fire Department and RDCO Fire Services are in regular contact with the BC Wildfire Service to ensure appropriate resources are allocated to the wildfire at all times.
As fire fighting efforts continue, residents should expect to see smoke and flames from the fire, as well the regular movement of fire equipment. Fire activity is especially visible at dusk and can be seen from across the lake.
As of 7 a.m., it is estimated that 487 properties are under Evacuation Order, while 21,077 properties are under Evacuation Alert. The Emergency Operations Centre expects to adjust orders and alerts as conditions change and hazards are assessed and mitigated.
Property visits in evacuation order areas are being organized for property owners whose homes are uninhabitable. Information about resident tours will be released shortly.
The public is reminded, for their safety and that of fire crews, not to enter areas under an Evacuation Order. Many areas still exist where active firefighting is underway and ongoing dangers like downed power lines, hazardous materials, damaged trees, debris and equipment pose risks.
As Evacuation Orders are downgraded, residents returning home can access frequently asked questions and other resources at cordemergency.ca to aid in a safe return.
For more information, contact the information line at 250-469-8490 (local) or 1-877-569-8490 (toll-free).
West Kelowna Fire Chief Jason Brolund has provided the update below.
“Yesterday, Aug. 29, the McDougall Creek wildfire threatened our community in a new way," says West Kelowna Fire Chief Jason Brolund. “The transition from warm stable weather to cooler, wet days brought increased winds. By mid-morning yesterday, we learned that the transition could be more violent and accompanied by strong winds and low humidity. These factors were a recipe for increased fire behaviour.”
“The position of the wildfire in the Powers Creek drainage area means that it could move towards Glenrosa under these conditions. We were not going to take any risks and instead took decisive action to protect the community. The Evacuation Alert issued from the EOC was expanded to ensure the public was aware and prepared. Yesterday during the day, 28 fire apparatus and close to 125 firefighters were engaged on the ground in Glenrosa and Smith Creek. They came from across the Central and North Okanagan to our assistance and were supported by staff from the BC Wildfire Service. Their purpose was to prepare and defend the closest neighbourhoods to the fire and address any ember showers that were produced by the winds. Sprinklers were also installed and activated to protect the Powers Creek Water Treatment Plant.”
“Last night, five fire engines and 21 staff remained on the ground overnight. These staff were from West Kelowna, Peachland and Lake Country. The weather has worked in our favour in West Kelowna, with some rain falling overnight. The fire remains in its current position, with less activity overnight. We are grateful for the assistance of our neighbouring fire departments who quickly came when we called and remain as needed.”
“Today, we are feeling better about the weather forecast and fire conditions in West Kelowna. However, this wildfire will be an ongoing threat in the Glenrosa area for a while to come. For just how long we cannot predict with active weather. A large amount of wildfire remains just behind our West Kelowna community. The rain last night and in the coming days will help, but it will not put the fire out.”
“I urge the public to remain vigilant and alert today and, in the days ahead, always adhering to all Alerts and Orders issued by the EOC. We will continue to take decisive actions to protect the neighbourhoods threatened by the wildfire. Today, we will continue to focus on the safe return of evacuees to the most damaged neighbourhoods in West Kelowna. This is a process I expect to continue until early next week.”
For all Evacuation Alerts and Evacuation Orders visit cordemergency.ca or contact the information line at 250-469-8490 (local) or 1-877-569-8490 (toll-free).
For information regarding City of West Kelowna services visit westkelownacity.ca/citywildfire or contact the City’s information line at
778-797-1234.