Fifty-five properties west of Summerland have been placed under an evacuation order due to the aggressive Finlay Creek wildfire burning 7.5 kilometres southwest of Peachland.
Properties in Meadow Valley, Darke Creek and North Fish Lake Rd. areas are in the process of being evacuated by first responders.
The BC Wildfire Service, RCMP, Penticton Search and Rescue and the Summerland Fire Service are on scene as the evacuation order straddles both the District of Summerland and Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen borders.
An Emergency Social Services Reception Centre is being set up at the Summerland Arena and Curling Club at 8820 Jubilee Rd. East.
Those properties evacuating horses or livestock can relocate animals to BC Livestock Yards at 5353 Hawthorne Pl. Okanagan Falls.
Meanwhile, an evacuation alert has been expanded to include an additional 206 properties, bringing the total to more than 300 homes now under an evacuation alert.
The new properties under Evacuation Alert within the District of Peachland include:
• 6575 – 7280 (correct) Highway 97
• 4948 – 5079 Elliott Avenue
• 6421 – 6465 Mack Road
• 6457 – 6650 Renfrew Road
• 6470 – 6484 Renfrew Court
• 4949 – 5061 Princeton Avenue
• 6487 – 6568 Sherburn Road
• 6471 – 6485 Stuart Crescent South
• 6503 – 6551 Ferguson Place
• 6426 – 6575 Vernon Avenue
• 6465 – 6590 Bulyea Avenue
Those new properties under Evacuation Alert within the Regional District of Central Okanagan Central Okanagan West Electoral Area include:
• Brent Road
• Zipzone – upper Princteon Avenue (5875 Brenda Forest Service Road)
Residents in these areas should be prepared to leave their homes on short notice should fire conditions change.
Last night, residents from approximately 100 properties in the following areas were put on Evacuation Alert:
• Properties south of Princeton Avenue and south to the District of Peachland boundary, including:
• 5247 Inga Street
• 6400-6493 Keyes Avenue
• 5357-5495 Pierce Street
• 5420-5443 Pierce Place
• 5440-5463 McDougland Road
• 5155-5379 Princeton Avenue (south side of the road only)
• Properties west of Antlers Beach including:
• 6705-6711 Highway 97
• 6691-6789 Thorne Road
• 303-307 Log Chute Drive
An Evacuation Alert has also been issued in Electoral Area F, for the community of Faulder and area west of Summerland.
There are 97 properties on alert (list here) and those residents should be ready to leave at a moment’s notice.
The Finlay Creek wildfire has grown to 1,000 hectares in size.
Tinder-dry conditions, westerly winds, and steep terrain are posing challenges for firefighting crews.
There has not been significant rainfall in the Finley Creek area in over two months.
Twenty-three firefighters, three helicopters, several aircraft four pieces of heavy equipment have been deployed to the fire.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
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