Home thought lost in Smith Creek fire saved by helicopter crew

WEST KELOWNA – A home first thought to be decimated by a rank three wildfire burning in the Smith Creek Road area of West Kelowna has been saved.

Thick smoke shrouded an evacuated home and outbuilding as the fire passed through the 1800 block area of Dixie Road and firefighters believed the property was destroyed, however a bucket helicopter managed to save the buildings, according a press release from the Regional District of Central Okanagan.

The 30 hectare fire, first reported at about 1:40 p.m. is burning east above the Smith Creek subdivision. The fire grew to a rank five but has since been classified as a rank three. An emergency Reception Centre has been set up at Lakeview Heights Baptist Church at 2630 Alhambra Drive, near the intersection of Highway 97 and Hudson Road for evacuees.

Peachland, Kelowna and Lake Country Fire and Rescue have been called to support the crew in West Kelowna as needed.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Adam Proskiw at aproskiw@infonews.ca or call 250-718-0428. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.