UPDATE 9:00 a.m.: The Smith Creek fire is now 60 per cent contained and remains at 260 hectares. Crews say the cooler, cloudy weather has continued to help with this fire fight. An evacuation order is still in place for 300 people in the Tallus Ridge neighbourhood that are accessed via Mountains Hollow Lane and for properties accessed via Dixie Road in the Smith Creek neighbourhood.
UPDATE 6:30 p.m. : Emergency officials are reassessing the remaining evacuation orders Monday at noon. The 300 evacuees still out of their home will remain evacuated until at least then.
The Smith Creek fire is now 50 percent contained, but still 260 hectares in size.
Approximately 1,900 residents were allowed to go home this afternoon, and as of 5:00 p.m. Sunday night, another 300 people were allowed to return. However, all those properties remain under an evacuation alert and can be told to leave at a moments notice.
The fire was sparked at around 1:20 pm on Thursday, grew to 200 hectares in size by Thursday night and to 400 hectares early Friday afternoon due to heavy wind.
Officials call this a “wind driven fire” which made it very hard to contain. Wind has been crews biggest enemy.
Cloud cover and cooler weather helped the fire fight.
Some precipitation Friday night and Saturday morning helped fight the fire, along with lower temperatures and crews brought the fire down to 250 hectares.
Global News got behind the fire line Saturday and talked to some of the firefighters about the exhausting fight with 18 hour days in the heat.
“Trees are falling on you, smokes coming at you, choppers are coming overhead and your radio is constantly going. It’s a big challenge.” says firefighter Eric Koppe.
You can view an interactive map showing the order and alert zones here.
FULL LIST:
The Evacuation Order is rescinded but an Evacuation Alert remains in effect for the following areas:
The following roads in the Smith Creek Neighbourhood:
• Asquith Road
• Bridal Hill Court
• Bridal Hill Drive
• Copper Ridge Drive
• Copper Ridge Court
• Copper Ridge Place
• Copper Ridge Way
• Doucette Drive
• Harold Road
• Ironridge Place
• Ironridge Road
• Rhinestone Road
• Shetler Drive
• Sandberg Road
• Sageview Road
• Saddleridge Drive
• Sugosa Place
• Salish Road
• Smith Creek Road
• Stone Ridge Drive
• Summerview Place
• Summerview Court
• Telcor Place
• Twin Place
• Whispering Hills Drive
• Wild Horse Drive
The following roads in the Alexandria Neighbourhood:
• Alexandria Way
• Shannon Lake Road
The following roads/properties in the Tallus Ridge Neighbourhood:
• Boulder Lake Boulevard
• Cobblestone Road
• Pebble Place
• Stone Grove Crescent
• Tuscany Drive
• Tallus Ridge Drive including 2390 Tallus Ridge Drive
The following roads in the Shannon Woods Neighbourhood:
• Shannon Woods Drive
• Shannon Woods Place
• Shannon Woods Way
• Shannon Woods Cres
• Shannon Hills Drive
• Shannon Hills Place
• Shannon Heights Court
• Shannon Heights Place
The Evacuation Order is still in effect for:
The following properties/roads in the Smith Creek Neighbourhood:
• All properties accessed off Dixie Road
The following properties/roads in the Tallus Ridge Neighbourhood including the following roads:
• Big Sky Drive
• Mountains Hollow Lane
• Paramount Drive
• Ryser Place
• Tallus Heights Drive
• Tallus Green Crescent
• Tallus Green Place
The Evacuation Alert has been lifted for Bartley Road and Lenz Road
GALLERY:
By Friday afternoon progress had been made. Lauren Pullen reports:
The community has stepped up its support, helping the displaced evacuees, Kladuia Van Emmerik reports:
Premier Christy Clark on the Smith Creek fire:
West Kelowna Mayor Doug Findlater on the fire:
Initial details on the Smith Creek wildfire. Lauren Pullen reports:
SMITH CREEK FIRE TIME LAPSE
Viewer video:
Viewer video:
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