West Kelowna wildfire continues to burn out of control

KELOWNA (NEWS 1130) – Flames are threatening homes in West Kelowna, but the ways people are being impacted go beyond the possibility of losing their property.

A popular vacation resort is just one spot that has been dealing with power outages as flames of the Westside Road Fire light up nearby hills.

La Casa Lake Cottage Resort is among the places that have been in the dark.

Keith Fisher is the Strata Operations Manager, and says that has driven a lot of people out.

“We have 263 built cottages right now on site and we have 478 buildable lots — they’re all sold, all private owned. So, we were probably about 80 per cent occupied, and that’s with owners and guests and I would say we’re down to thirty cottages left occupied.”

Fisher adds unless you have a generator, you can’t keep your meals up.

“You can use the barbeques because they’re all propane fed, which is off a propane tank on each cottage, but you have to use either a generator or flashlights just to feed your cottage, so it’s pretty tough.”

He isn’t getting much sleep, calling it all a “waiting game,” and is hopeful vacationers will come back.

“I went through this back six years ago when they had the Terrace Mountain one behind us, and we were out for ten days, and when we did come back, everybody came back. Once they get it under control, because it’s between us and Lake Okanagan Resort, so once they get it under control, a lot of people do come back. So, I’m hoping that people will realize unfortunately it is the Interior and we do have wildfires but these guys are well-trained, they’ll get it under control and then you can come back, and this is pretty safe here.”

Fisher can’t give enough praise to the local fire crews.

Fire Information Officer, Kelsey Winte says the blaze didn’t grow overnight — it is still covering about 430 hectares, and is still zero percent contained.

“The BC Wildfire Service as well as the local fire department, we’re on site overnight ensuring structure protection and monitoring the homes along Westside Road. We did see some downslope winds, but not nearly as strong as the night previous, so that was great.”

She adds crews are hoping the weather will work in their favour.

“It’s supposed to be a little bit of a cooler day and we do have the chance for more precipitation so hopefully that comes through.”

Twenty firefighters, two helicopters, and two air tanker groups are battling the blaze.

An evacuation order is still in effect for people on about 70 properties.

“We’re still seeing lightning, we didn’t see as many strikes come through last night, just upwards of 50 so that’s quite a decrease from what we’ve been seeing Sunday and Monday, but we’re still seeing lightning fires pop up, so just a reminder for people to keep calling them in,” Winter adds.

There is an air quality advisory in effect for the entire Okanagan.

Premier Christy Clark and Forests Minister Steve Thomson are set to speak to media in West Kelowna today.