Forest fire puts dozens on evacuation alert
Posted July 30, 2012 9:22 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
KELOWNA (NEWS1130) – What could be the first major forest fire of the season has put dozens of people on evacuation alert on the west side of Okanagan Lake.
Michaela Swan with the BC Forest Service says crews thought they had contained the Wilsons’ Landing fire at 4.4 hectares yesterday but it exploded to 30 hectares this morning.
“We’re seeing open flames ranked two-fire on a scale of one to six,” Swan notes. “Right now, crews are establishing guard against the road and we are being supported with air tankers as well as helicopters.”
The forecast is for more strong winds in the area today and Swan fears the fire could grow even more.
The Wildfire Management Branch is also expecting more fires will pop up around the province after last week’s lightning storms.