A wildfire near Peachland, B.C., has grown significantly, prompting evacuations from hundreds of properties in the Okanagan area. The B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS) revealed on Friday that the fire near Munro Lake Forest Service Road, just west of Okanagan Lake, has expanded to over 2.2 square kilometers, up from 0.74 square kilometers on Thursday. With strong southwest winds and sunny weather forecasted for Friday, there are concerns that fire activity may intensify.
An evacuation order is currently in effect for 325 addresses, while an evacuation alert has been issued for over 1,100 properties, instructing residents to be prepared to evacuate on short notice. The fire, which started on Thursday afternoon, is being closely monitored by the BCWS.
Peachland, a district municipality housing approximately 5,000 residents situated about 20 kilometers southwest of Kelowna, is the main area affected by the wildfire. More than 40 personnel, along with air tankers and four helicopters, are actively engaged in combating the blaze.
Kirsten Jones, an information officer with the regional district’s emergency operations center, advised affected residents to subscribe to the district’s email notification list and register online for updates and assistance. Evacuated individuals seeking support can visit the muster center at the Peachland Community Centre for further resources. Jones also emphasized the importance of sharing verified information and checking on neighbors during this crisis.
The wildfire is suspected to be human-caused, as any wildfire not initiated by lightning is classified as such.