Wildfire threatening homes east of Kelowna
Posted July 3, 2015 5:41 pm.
Last Updated July 4, 2015 9:00 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
KELOWNA (NEWS 1130) – Wildfires in various parts of the province have interrupted both traffic flow and the lives of people living near them.
A wildfire along the Coquihalla closed the highway both ways, just north of Hope, for a few hours. The bush along the highway caught fire thanks to intense flames coming off of car that had caught fire.
People in the Halfmoon Bay area on the Sunshine Coast have been told to pack their bags just in case a fire about 20 hectares in size gets any bigger. The smoke from that fire created a haze that could be seen on the North Shore and even at English Bay.
About 140 properties have been evacuated in Joe Rich, just east of Kelowna. About another 160 homes are under an evacuation alert.
Kayla Pepper with the BC Wildfire Management Branch says the fire is not contained at this point.
“That fire started earlier this (Friday) afternoon and is now estimated at 80 hectares in size. Currently the BC Wildfire Service has 27 personnel on site and they are being supported by two air tanker groups as well as two helicopters.”
The fire is along Highway 33, on the way to the Big White Ski Resort.
Jen Zielinski with Castanet News says it’s a rural area, with lots of acreages and homeowners who own animals.
She says she encountered a woman who operates a wolf-hybrid kennel.
“Her husband had just arrived home. They had a trailer but it wasn’t equipped to carry ten of her animals. She was definitely looking for help from the public to assist her.”
She says leaving their homes behind brings back unpleasant memories for many people.
“A lot of people in that area were evacuated in 2003. The Okanagan Mountain Park fire was very close to Highway 33. Several of them said it was like re-living 2003 all over again.”
That firestorm resulted in the loss of hundreds of homes.
A campfire ban is in place for the entire province this weekend.
