Wildfire leads to evacuation order for 400 properties in B.C.’s Okanagan region

A critical highway in B.C.’s Okanagan region has reopened after a nearby wildfire prompted the evacuation of 400 properties.

The Okanagan Connector (Highway 97C) had been closed in both directions from the junction of Highway 97 to the junction of Highway 5A, a distance of 82.5 kilometres, just before 3 p.m. PT on Wednesday. Around 9:10 p.m. PT, DriveBC said it had reopened in both directions.

Officials say, however, that a stretch of Highway 97 between Peachland and the Highway 97C junction has only reopened to single-lane alternating traffic as the blaze continues to burn over an area of around 27 hectares.

The Regional District of Central Okanagan’s emergency operations centre said in a statement around 4:45 p.m. PT that residents of around 400 properties were ordered to leave due to the blaze, which is located around two kilometres north of Peachland, B.C.

Evacuation centres have been set up at the Peachland Community Centre and West Kelowna’s Royal LePage Place, according to officials. 

Properties east of Trepanier Bench Road, south of Highway 97C, and north of Highway 97 are on evacuation order.

The regional district said in an update around 7:30 p.m. PT that the evacuation orders will remain in place for approximately 48 hours and will be reassessed on Thursday morning.

An evacuation alert has been issued for around 225 properties just southwest of the area that is under an evacuation order.

An evacuation alert means that residents should be prepared to leave at a moment’s notice, while an evacuation order means that residents should leave immediately.

More details on evacuations will be posted to the cordemergency.ca website, according to officials.

Peachland Mayor Patrick Van Minsel is among those who had to leave their homes due to the blaze. He estimates smoke from the fire was 500 to 600 metres from his home, which is in a hillside community between many trees.

“I think there’s no reason to be, you know, in panic,” he told Sarah Penton, host of CBC’s Radio West, late Wednesday afternoon from the evacuation centre. 

“I think [the] fire department is on it, we have a lot of trust in them,” he added. “And I’m very hopeful that they will get a handle on it.”

WATCH | CBC’s Jacqueline Gelineau talks about the latest on Drought Hill wildfire: 

Wildfire closes Okanagan Connector and forces ‘tactical’ evacuations

People at hundreds of properties in the Okanagan have been ordered to leave because of a fast-growing wildfire. It’s burning between Peachland and West Kelowna, shutting down two major highways, including the Okanagan Connector and a portion of Highway 97.

Van Minsel said that anyone who had to leave their homes should have a place to go as the community centre is very large and people who aren’t under evacuation order are welcoming and would take evacuees in.

Taylor Colman, a fire information officer with the B.C. Wildfire Service, said crews were seeing a moderate rate of fire spread on Wednesday evening.

“Thankfully, the air tankers and skimmers that are responding have really helped cool fire behaviour and slowed the spread,” she said just before 6 p.m. PT. “And then our personnel on the ground are able to support Peachland fire department with the ground response.”

In an update later Wednesday night, the service says that a fire crew, structure protection specialists and personnel from Peachland Fire & Rescue would remain on the scene overnight.

Fire sparked during hot week

The blaze was sparked amid a sweltering week for the southern B.C. Interior, with Environment Canada maintaining a heat warning for the Okanagan Valley on Wednesday.

Officials have not yet categorized the fire as a “wildfire of note,” a designation that means it is particularly visible or poses a threat to public safety.

The fire is suspected to have been started by human activity, a broad category that includes any fire not caused by lightning. 

WATCH | Resident describes moments leading up to evacuation: 

Fast moving wildfire in B.C.’s Okanagan prompts evacuation, highway closure | Hanomansing Tonight

An active wildfire in B.C.’s Okanagan region has closed a critical highway, prompting the tactical evacuation of 400 nearby properties. Rene Doiron, an evacuee from the area, recalls the moments leading up to his mandatory evacuation.

Two other major fires are burning in the southern half of the province — including the Bear Creek wildfire near Harrison Lake, and a fire south of Lytton that has prompted evacuation alerts.

Kelowna RCMP said in a statement on Wednesday afternoon that firefighting helicopters would be using nearby Okanagan Lake to refuel, and that boaters should avoid the area.

“Boaters are asked to be aware and not obstruct the aircraft from accessing the lake in their firefighting efforts,” the statement reads.