The wildfire burning above Peachland in British Columbia is now 100 hectares in size, say officials. It is burning around the Okanagan Connector near Trepanier Road.
Evacuation orders are in place for properties affected by the fire south west of the Okanagan Connector, including Trepanier Road from the Connector, including Star Place all within the Central Okanagan West Electoral Area, and an area within the District of Peachland on the following roads:
– Clarence Road
– Coldham Road
– Cousins Place
– Cousins Road
– Desert Pines Avenue
– Dryden Road
– Greata Road
– Huston Road
– Inglis Place
– Lang Court
– Lever Court
– Lornell Court
– Mackinnon Road
– MacNeill Court
– Morrison Crescent
– Morrison Court
– Morrison Place
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– Shaw Road
– Smith Way
– Star Place
– Sutherland Road
– Trepanier Bench Road
– Trepanier Heights
– Trepanier Road
– Walker Road
– Witt Place
An Emergency Social Services Reception Centre will be opened at 6:00 p.m. PT. Residents within the Evacuation Area are asked to report to the Emergency Support Services Reception Centre at the Westbank Lions Community Hall, 2466 Main Street in West Kelowna.
Affected residents are asked to report to the Reception Centre in person to register.
Local states of emergency have been declared for the affected areas within the Central Okanagan West Electoral Area and in the District of Peachland.
Tom Millar, who was one of the first people on scene when the fire began, said the flames have now travelled across Highway 97 and the blaze is threatening more homes. “We’ve seen people grabbing RVs and trailers and just trying to evacuate,” he said.
“The flames are moving very fast, this is getting very bad,” he said.
Other residents in the area are tweeting Global BC saying the flames are in the middle of a subdivision.
Fire officials say air tankers have been sent from Penticton and Kamloops, and big unit crews of about 20 people are also being sent from Penticton, Princeton, and Kamloops.
Millar said it is really windy in the area, and he estimates winds are up to 70 km/hr now.
Peachland RCMP are asking for people with horse trailers to help evacuate horses from the area before the flames grow in size.
There is no word yet on how the fire started, but officials say there were no lightning strikes in the area.
New information will be available on the Regional District Emergency Program website www.cordemergency.ca
The Public is asked to:
· Avoid the Westside Road area so emergency responders can effectively perform their duties
· Stay tuned to the media for further information. Please do not call the Fire Department or other emergency services for information.
· DO NOT CALL 911 unless it’s a life threatening emergency
· Remain calm
· Stay by the phone to receive a call if a family member(s) may have been impacted.
This video was taken by Twitter user @BrendenSmith31
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