New wildfire evacuation orders issued in Central Okanagan | iNFOnews.ca
The McDougall Creek wildfire as seen from the Smith Creek neighbourhood, Aug. 17, 2023. Credit: FACEBOOK/Adelina Juchnik

New wildfire evacuation orders issued in Central Okanagan

Evacuation orders are coming in fast and furious today from the Central Okanagan Emergency Operations Centre with Kelowna, West Kelowna and Lake Country under states of emergency due to the wildfire situation. 

Thousands of residents in West Kelowna, Westbank First Nation, Kelowna and Lake Country have been ordered to evacuate.

The BC Wildfire Service said the McDougall Creek wildfire has grown to 68 square kilometres in size, up from 11 square kilometres yesterday afternoon. Embers from the out of control blaze made their way across Okanagan lake last night, sparking new fires on the Kelowna and Lake Country side of the lake.

In Kelowna, the evacuation orders are in effect for properties in the Clifton, McKinley and Finch Road areas of the city, as well as all properties that are accessible through Quail Ridge Boulevard, including the Quail Ridge Golf Club. UBC Okanagan has announced an evacuation of its campus. In the Central Okanagan, properties north of Nahun to La Casa are now under evacuation order. Properties in the Nighthawk Tyndale area of Lake Country are under evacuation order.

A map of properties under evacuation order can be found here.

READ MORE: Firefighters risked their lives trying to rescue people and save homes from McDougall Creek Wildfire

All flights at the Kelowna International Airport have been cancelled.

The fire destroyed Okanagan Lake Resort earlier today. 

Evacuees can find support at the Royal LePage Place in West Kelowna, Prospera Place in Kelowna and the Kal Tire Place in Vernon. Penticton has opened an evacuee reception centre at 199 Ellis Street.

READ MORE: iN PHOTOS: Images from the West Kelowna wildfire

Police in Kelowna want the public to to stay off Okanagan Lake so they don't get in the way of aircraft loading water.

There have been several boats on the lake attempting to get to areas within the evacuation zones, RCMP said. Penticton also issued a release today asking boaters to avoid any areas on Okanagan Lake and Skaha Lake where air tankers are replenishing their loads.

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Dan Walton

Before joining the ranks of InfoTel, Dan’s byline could be found in newspapers in Penticton, Peachland and Oliver. Prior to his arrival in the South Okanagan, he first sharpened his chops as a reporter at a radio station in Brighton, Ontario, and then newspapers in Tisdale, Saskatchewan, and Invermere B.C.
From quilting competitions to crimes against humanity, Dan isn’t afraid to cover any topic. Always seeking out the best angles - whether it’s through the lens of his camera or the voices of his Interviews – he delves into the conflict and seeks out the humanity in every story worth telling.
Dan is always happy to hear from readers. To get in touch for any reason he can be contacted at (250) 488-3065 or dwalton@infonews.ca.

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