A wildfire fanned by 115 kilometre per hour winds razed homes along the west side of British Columbia’s Okanagan Lake, forcing many residents to escape to safety.
Video and photos posted online show flames in the night sky, and later, the charred remains of buildings along the northern end of the lake, near Vernon.
The BC Wildfire Service said Sunday that winds from an intense weather system on Saturday were too much for aircraft to hold back the Bradley Creek fire.
It prompted the evacuation of the Okanagan Indian Band reserve, while separate evacuation orders and alerts are up near the cities of Vernon and Armstrong.
The wildfire service reports that dozens more fires have been sparked and have expanded quickly, due to high winds and lightning strikes, with almost half of the 130 wildfires burning in the province out of control.
An update posted on the Bradley Creek fire said a cold front passed across the region and brought significantly elevated winds, beyond what had been in the forecast.
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“Gusts were forecast to reach up to 70 km/h in the Okanagan, however crews on the ground observed sustained 80 km/h winds over the fire and 115 km/h winds at elevation,” the update posted online said.
“These winds caused significant challenges and the firefighters, helicopters, airtankers and skimmers were unable to hold the fire.”
Shifting winds Saturday forced the fire across Highway 97, which has been closed.
As of Sunday morning, there were 42 separate evacuation orders for communities across the province and another 40 alerts.
The Regional District of North Okanagan said if people have a recreational vehicle, and time permits, they should bring it with them as accommodations will be limited.
The wildfires and Saturday night’s storm have also knocked out power to several areas of the province, especially in the Okanagan and Kootenay regions where more than 23,000 customers are without lights.
The BC Wildfire Service is recommending that British Columbians be prepared for a possible quick departure, even if wildfires aren’t threatening their areas.
The service says there are five wildfires of note now in the province, all of them burning near communities.
If you have a fire close to a lake why can you not mount a fire hose on a chopper and put the bloody fire out
..wow, the lack of education of most of the commenters on here is astounding…
Get used to it, the earth is gonna burn. He said it would.
It is worse with the NDP in power.
Aluminum oxide. Found all over. Hmmm wonder where it’s coming from? Oh stop it it’s not from the sky. Is it? Covering forests with it. Same stuff used in deodorants, to keep you DRY. Anti-moisture. Makes for a perfect recipe during fire season doesn’t it? Kinda makes you wonder who’s letting who do what? But let’s blame climate change for everything including the poor decisions our politicians and elected leaders are making.
So its the Army’s job to protect the country, why does it not include fires
Fire Tracker Satelite
Elite Team of Firefighters from throughout the world that are equipped specifically to fight wildfires around the globe.
Supersonic fleet of water bombers.
AI used to predict and coordinate responses and preventative actions to fight droughts and plant deseases that leave forrests vulnerable etc.
People claim CO2 and worse is better tgan man-made sources as it is effectively adding to an existing problem.
That in no way means reducing the amount of forest fires that are caused by “Acts of God” we don’t believe is not a viable solution.
The USA a smaller country with less forest has 8 times the wildfire fighting equipment and capabilities than Canada.
Ahh it’s just those silly Greenpeace fellows setting fires to help us unbelievers know that the world is burning because of climate change. Just ignore them, they will go away after a few decades.
This is just unbelievable. Ask him about the Pear Lake fire. It never should have got to this point. He wasn’t concerned when it started & it never should have got to this point. My friends have lost their homes, businesses. Wildlife. Livestock has been lost. My elderly parents & many more are displaced. He dropped the ball. Talk to the locals.
I guess that BC decision to not let lumber companies harvest the Pine Beetle killed trees is coming home to roost.
And there are only 6 fires in Alberta. But that does not get media attention. They only focus on storylines that scare the public.
Lots of eco terroists and arsonists in BC
And were is our fearless forestry minister who says we don’t need to declare a state of emergency? HE is the state of emergency if he doesn’t realize what that means. Its not just about more equipment,.its about funding for displaced people. USELESS!