Winds drive renewed evacuation alerts in West Kelowna

Just when the McDougall Lake Wildfire had pushed far enough away from West Kelowna to allow most people to breath a sigh of relief, the blaze may flare up again due to high winds.

“Due to increased winds, the Emergency Operations Centre is expanding the evacuation alert in West Kelowna to include all of the Glenrosa and Westbank neighbourhoods,” a release from the Central Okanagan Emergency Operations Centre reads.

A separate EOC media release dealing with Westbank First Nation adds that all remaining properties north of Highway 97 within IR#9, as well as 1979 Old Okanagan Highway, are also now on alert.

Residents on alert need to be ready to leave on a moment’s notice.

Members of the BC Wildfire Service are currently going door-to-door in the Glenrosa neighbourhood advising residents of the alert, and telling people to be ready to go and to "firesmart" their properties as much as possible.

Earlier today, many residents in West Kelowna Estates were allowed to return home as the evacuation order in that neighbourhood was downgraded to an alert.

Residents can check with cordemergency.ca/map to find out the status of their homes.

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