UPDATE: Wildfire south of Penticton grows to 250 Ha; evacuations ordered

A wildfire that broke out in the hills northeast of Heritage Hills and Lakeshore Highlands around 2 p.m. this afternoon, Aug. 18, continues to grow.

An evacuation order has been issued for 319 properties by the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen this afternoon, Aug. 18.

An evacuation order means residents must evacuate their properties.

A complete list of properties affected can be found at the regional district website. It's poor timing for the regional district, however, because its website has been impaired by a recent ransomware attack and may be difficult to access. If you can't access the regional district website, click here. 

The fire is burning in a gulley on the steep slope of Mount Christie, east of Skaha Lake, around six kilometres south of Penticton.

Information officer Nicole Bonnet says the fire has grown to 250 ha in size as of early this evening. B.C. Wildfire is calling it a fire of note, and has multiple fixed-wing aircraft and ground personnel on site.

Bonnet says ground crews are being hampered by steep terrain and difficult access.

Air tankers and amphibious aircraft are actioning the blaze, which has grew rapidly this afternoon as it was fed by south winds.

The Regional District of South Okanagan Similkameen is monitoring public messaging via Facebook and Twitter to advise boaters to avoid the area to allow crews to work.

No cause for the fire has been established.

– This story was updated at 3:30 p.m.  at 4:10 p.m. at 5 p.m. at 5:45 p.m and again at 6:45 p.m., Aug. 18 to add new fire information about the fire, an evacuation order for residents in the area, and updated information from B.C. Wildfire.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad or call 250-488-3065 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to tips@infonews.ca and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.