Hundreds of people south of Penticton, B.C., have been ordered to immediately evacuate the area as firefighters responded to a rapidly evolving wildfire.
The Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen’s emergency operations centre issued the evacuation order covering 319 properties in the Heritage Hills area on Tuesday afternoon.
Evacuation Order for homes in Heritage Hills south of Penticton, BC #BCWildfire pic.twitter.com/Fjx0oYdxJO
— RDOS EOC (@EmergMgtRDOS) August 19, 2020
— RDOS EOC (@EmergMgtRDOS) August 19, 2020
The BC Wildfire Service said crews are responding to the fire on Christie Mountain about six kilometres north of the community of Okanagan Falls, on the east side of Skaha Lake.
The fire is estimated at 250 hectares and firefighters on the ground are being supported by air tankers.
The service said the situation was “rapidly evolving” and asked everyone to stay clear of the area to avoid interfering with the operation.
The order asks residents of the Heritage Hills area to leave with pets and critical items.
“We anticipate we will see further growth once we are able to get a more accurate track of the fire,” the service said in a tweet.
The fire is among dozens the BC Wildfire Service is fighting but was the only one upgraded to a “fire of note” on Tuesday.
Ten wildfires in the Pemberton area north of Whistler were burning but not threatening any properties, the service said.
A 10-hectare fire southeast of Lillooet, B.C., was smouldering with no open flame but was considered out of control. The service suspects it was human-caused, unlike most of the others.
Ground crews, air tankers and helicopters attacked it Monday and multiple crews and heavy equipment stopped it from growing overnight.
Twenty-two firefighters and one helicopter remained on site Tuesday.
Firefighters have tackled dozens of wildfires after weekend thunderstorms left a trail of hot spots.
Figures from the service show that among 109 active fires in the province, 95 were started in the last few days.
Most are burning in the southeast district, where the service says crews have been battling 25 fires primarily around the Arrow and Kootenay lake regions.
Two fires were visible from Canal Flats and Wasa, north of Cranbrook.
Hot, dry weather has been a key factor in the new fires and most were caused by lightning.
READ MORE: Several wildfires burning out of control on Vancouver Island
Crews are assessing all of the fires by ground and air and will continue to strategically fight the fires, the service said.
The #BCWildfire Service is responding to the Christie Mountain wildfire (K51287) located approximately 6 km N of Okanagan Falls on the east side of Skaha lake. It is estimated at ten hectares in size. BCWS personnel are on site and are being supported by air tankers (1/4). pic.twitter.com/ly2nwKc0ck
— BC Wildfire Service (@BCGovFireInfo) August 19, 2020
Reports have indicated the fire is an active surface fire with an organized flame front. The BC Wildfire Service would like to advise people to please stay clear of this area in order to not interfere with ongoing air tanker operations (2/4).
— BC Wildfire Service (@BCGovFireInfo) August 19, 2020
This is a rapidly evolving situation, and the fire is now classified as a wildfire of note. Updates will be provided as the become available on the Wildfires of Note webpage here: https://t.co/cq55q4rfLC (3/4).
— BC Wildfire Service (@BCGovFireInfo) August 19, 2020
The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen has issued an evacuation order for properties in the area.
For more information please visit their website: https://t.co/XcmVU1qzVp (4/4).— BC Wildfire Service (@BCGovFireInfo) August 19, 2020
UPDATE: The Christie Mountain wildfire (K51287) is now estimated at 250 hectares in size. We anticipate we will see further growth once we are able to get a more accurate track of the fire. Please continue to check the Wildfire of Note page for further updates. pic.twitter.com/bgCzGpaFxz
— BC Wildfire Service (@BCGovFireInfo) August 19, 2020
The service says the situation was “rapidly evolving” and asked everyone to stay clear of the area to avoid interfering with the operation.
The order asks residents of the Heritage Hills area to leave with pets and critical items.
Story by Amy Smart, The Canadian Press.
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