Peachland’s Drought Hill fire now 100% contained

PEACHLAND – B.C. Wildfire crews along with the Peachland and West Kelowna fire departments are currently mopping up the scene of the Drought Hill fire, which has already burned for four days but is now 100 per cent contained.

“It’s still 40 hectares in size. There will be 50 personnel on site today,” says Kelsey Winter, a fire information officer with B.C. Wildfire.

The fire started about 500 ft from the Okanagan Connector near MacKinnon Road last Thursday. By Sunday the blaze was contained with airtankers, four water bombers and two helicopters. There is no heavy equipment on site for mop up activities.

Highway 97C had been reduced to one lane in both directions near the Visitor Centre but is now clear for travel.

An evacuation alert remains in effect for family members ordered from their home on the 4700 block of MacKinnon Road.

Winter, however, offers good news for the family.

“They’re in the process of lifting that alert,” she says.

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