6 structures confirmed damaged by White Rock Lake wildfire near Okanagan Lake

An aerial survey of areas affected by the White Rock Lake wildfire in the Central Okanagan found at least six structures on four properties in the Bouleau Lake area sustained significant fire damage.

The lake is east of Parker’s Cove and outside the boundaries of the Regional District of Central Okanagan, according to a news release from the Emergency Operations Centre.

“Formal confirmation will require a ground survey when fire conditions allow safe access by inspectors,” the release states. “In the interim, the Emergency Operations Centre has attempted to contact affected property owners.”

Firefighters from a number of fire departments are helping with back burns along Westside Road.

“We are continuing to do work to help further protect homes in Lower Killiney Beach area,” North Westside Fire Chief Alex Van Bruksvoort said in the news release.

“The team has laid over 800 feet of four-inch hose from a fire boat up Hodges Road to Blarney Place, supplying fire trucks, tenders, and sprinkler systems placed throughout neighbourhoods. Crews are also removing combustible material close to homes. This is something that property owners who are on alert can also do.”

The Canadian Disaster Animal Response Team has opened a temporary emergency animal shelter at the Winfield Memorial Hall, 10130 Bottom Wood Lake Road, in Lake Country to house animal evacuees.

It’s open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call 250-809-9589 or email info@cdart.org.

Evacuation Orders and Alerts issued by the Regional District of Central Okanagan can be seen here.

A detailed map showing the present status of evacuation orders and alerts affecting properties within the regional district can be seen here.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Rob Munro or call 250-808-0143 or email the editor. You can also submitphotos, videos or news tips to the newsroom 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.