Hundreds of people remain on evacuation order or alert in the Central Okanagan due to an out of control wildfire believed to have been started by an overheated vehicle. Catherine Urquhart reports.
Emergency officials said they were conducting “tactical evacuations” of about 400 properties north of Peachland due to an out-of-control wildfire on Wednesday evening.
The fire, burning between Peachland and West Kelowna at Drought Hill, is currently estimated at 27 hectares in size, and has also forced significant closures to Highway 97 and Highway 97-C.
The Central Okanagan Regional District has activated its emergency operations centre, and says municipal and BC Wildfire Service firefighters are responding.
The evacuations affect properties east of Trepanier Bench Road, south of Highway 97C and north of Highway 97. An emergency reception centre has been established at Peachland Community Centre, 4450 6th Street.
An additional evacuation alert has been issued for 225 addresses in Peachland.
The fire prompted both Highway 97 and Highway 97C to be closed for a time Wednesday evening.
source & photo: Global News
