Kelowna landfill engulfed by fire, prompts UBC Okanagan evacuation

The University of British Columbia Okanagan has issued an evacuation order for its Kelowna campus due to a fire raging at a nearby landfill.

Social media posts indicate the Glenmore Landfill in Kelowna, near the university campus, is on fire. One video shows a massive tower of flames along with smokey conditions in the heart of the city.

The area around the Glenmore landfill is being overrun by the fire. Structures are being lost lost and employees have left the area #glenmore #bcwildfire #kelowna pic.twitter.com/sujaXtuAyy

— mishikasingh (@mishika_singh) August 18, 2023

Matthew Ramsay, director of university affairs, says the alert applies to all staff, students, and faculty on the campus.

“Students should be following directions of emergency personnel who have asked that the campus be evacuated immediately,” he told CityNews, saying it’s not clear how many people are affected by the alert.

This comes as the McDougall Creek wildfire continues to rage after growing exponentially overnight. It has led to subsequent spot fires in and around the city.

UPDATE: UBC Okanagan is under evacuation order. Please leave campus immediately. If you are on campus and do not have access to transportation, please make your way to H Lot.

Everyone else, please leave the area immediately in a calm and orderly manner. pic.twitter.com/Dxx0noahVT

— UBC Okanagan (@ubcokanagan) August 18, 2023

Anyone without transportation from the university is asked to gather in parking lot H of the campus.

Earlier in the day, the university announced that all exams scheduled from 12 p.m. on Aug. 18 onward have been cancelled.

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