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Fire ‘being held’ after forcing hundreds in West Kelowna from their homes
Bri Little submitted this video to CBC News that appears to show flames amid heavy smoke on the west side of Okanagan Lake, near Casa Loma, as a wildfire burned in West Kelowna, B.C., on Tuesday. She said she watched the fire spread across the hill around noontime over the span of an hour.
More than 800 people were ordered to leave their homes on Tuesday as a wildfire ignited and spread quickly in West Kelowna, B.C., coming within inches of some houses.
The fire started in Kalamoir Regional Park late Tuesday morning and quickly spread toward the Casa Loma and Lakeview Heights neighbourhoods, on a hillside above Okanagan Lake.
The flames were out of control for more than six hours, but as of 6 p.m. PT the fire was “being held,” according to the B.C. Wildfire Service — which means the fire isn’t expected to spread beyond the current footprint.
Residents were allowed to return home when evacuation orders were lifted shortly after, but remained under alert in case they need to leave again on short notice.
West Kelowna Fire Rescue said more than 100 firefighters worked to contain the flames against strong, gusting winds and dry conditions.
“The fire … very rapidly threatened hundreds of homes in that neighbourhood,” said Fire Chief Jason Brolund.
The fire, which officials say burned at least eight hectares of land, is listed as human-caused. The park is on the western shore of Okanagan Lake, around four kilometres southwest of the William R. Bennett Bridge that links West Kelowna and Kelowna.
Flames broke out just as the province held a news conference to warn British Columbians current drought conditions are worse than they were leading into the “historic” wildfire years of 2017, 2018 and 2021. Brolund said residents should prepare for a busy wildfire season and take Tuesday’s fire as a timely reminder.
