A wildfire erupted near Peachland, B.C., expanding rapidly on Thursday evening and compelling the evacuation of residents from 325 addresses. The Central Okanagan Regional District issued the evacuation order at 6 p.m. PT that same day.
Located about six kilometers southwest of Peachland, the fire near Munro Lake is currently posing a threat to the Munro Lake Forest Service Road and the Peachland Main Road. Starting in the afternoon, the fire has now grown to cover 0.7 square kilometers (74.3 hectares), according to the B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS).
Shae Stearns, a fire information officer with BCWS, mentioned that the fire activity has intensified due to gusty winds in the area. The fire is currently classified as Rank 3, indicating a moderately vigorous surface fire.
Over 40 personnel, along with air tankers and four helicopters, are actively engaged in combating the blaze. The Peachland Fire Department is also providing support.
Kirsten Jones, an information officer at the regional district’s emergency operations center, advised affected residents to sign up for the district’s email notification list for updates and assistance. Evacuated individuals seeking help can visit the muster center at the Peachland Community Centre for additional resources.
Jones further emphasized the importance of sharing verified information and checking on neighbors in such situations. The fire is suspected to be human-caused, as non-lightning-induced wildfires are typically categorized in this manner.