West Kelowna residents being evacuated from wildfire area

NEWS/ WILDFIRE — An evacuation order was issued today (Thursday) for residents living in the West Kelowna area due to a small wildfire burning above Smith Creek.

The fire was reported at 1:20 p.m. in the Smith Creek neighbourhood above Dixie Road. The Emergency Operations Centre was activated as the fire reached about two hectares in size.

It’s now estimated at 10 hectares.

A report that one home and at least one outbuilding were lost proved to be wrong.

The Maka-Murray fire between Merritt and Hope forced evacuation of about 35 properties Wednesday night. An evacuation alert remained in place for the Jura fire in the Similkameen.

The 138-hectare Boot Hill fire 30 km. southwest of Penticton was 30 per cent contained Thursday afternoon, with five firefighters, two helicopters and three pieces of heavy equipment on the scene.

A fire at Apex Mountain was 50 per cent contained at 313 hectares but an evacuation alert remained in effect.

“Crews have made good progress in containing the south end of the fire closest to homes,” the Wildfire Management Branch reported.