Crews battling 30-hectare wildfire near Okanagan Connector

NEWS/ WILDFIRES — An evacuation order was in effect Thursday night as a 30-hectare wildfire burned between Peachland and West Kelowna north of the Highway 97C Okanagan Connector.

The Wildfire Management Branch reported at 8:30 p.m. the Drought Hill fire is in grass and open timber and was exhibiting moderately vigorous fire behaviour.

Air tankers, water bombers, three helicopters and 27 fire fighters were responding. An additional 20-person sustained action crew was also assigned to the fire.

Aircraft were working to assist ground crews in establishing a guard, and personnel from the Peachland and West Kelowna fire departments were also on site.

A local state of emergency has been declared to facilitate the evacuation of a home on the 4700 block of MacKinnon Road in West Kelowna.

Winds were pushing the fire and smoke away from the highway, the wildfire branch said, but “downslope winds could push the smoke south where it will settle in the valley, causing an increase of smoke in the area, potentially affecting visibility.”

A lane closure was in effect westbound on Highway 97C four kilometres west of the junction with Highway 97. The public was being urged to only use the route if necessary. More information can be found at http://www.drivebc.ca.

“Boat traffic should also be conscious of aircraft gathering water nearby on Lake Okanagan.”