4,800 properties put on evacuation notice as wildfire rages towards BC town

Thousands of residents in British Columbia were put on evacuation notice late Wednesday night after a wildfire in the McDougall Creek, just outside the city of West Kelowna.

Central Okanagan Emergency Operations issued the evacuation alert for portions of West Kelowna, Westbank First Nation and a portion of the Central Okanagan West Electoral Area.

“Residents in the area are advised to be ready to leave their home at a moment’s notice. They should be prepared to be away from their home for an extended period of time, make arrangements for pets and pack essential items such as medicines and important documents,” the notice said.

The fire is estimated to be 64 hectares in size and is highly visible from West Kelowna and surrounding areas, BC Wildfire Services said.

Weather alerts issued by Environment Canada suggest that heavy winds are expected Thursday and overnight Friday that may worsen wildfire conditions and possibly start new fires.

“The Emergency Operations Centre is working with other response agencies to manage the situation, however, residents of the area should be prepared to obey an Evacuation Order if needed,” the centre said.

West Kelowna has a population of 33,000, and is located about 400 kilometers from Vancouver.

Rahat Sandhu