A wildfire that ignited Friday evening near Highway 97 in the North Okanagan prompted tactical evacuations overnight.
The District of Coldstream and City of Vernon confirmed homes on Clerke Rd., which parallels Highway 97, were evacuated.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the hill, Vernon said homes on Commonage Road between Allen Brooks Way and Bailey Rd. were put on evacuation alert.
By 2:30 a.m. on Saturday morning, homes on Kalamalka Lakeview Dr. and Carriage Lane were also on evacuation alert.
Evacuation alert means residents should prepare to leave on short notice.
Vernon Resident Kieran Stewart said he was shocked when he first came upon the scene while driving and the whole hillside appeared to be on fire.
“There were huge flames coming off of it,” Stewart said.
“First we thought it was a bonfire and then realizing it was a whole mountainside on fire was kind of scary just being so close to town.”
Stewart and his friends Clayton Jones and Jordan Bergeson said first responders had not yet arrived when they spotted the fire and the blaze spread incredibly rapidly up the hill.
The District of Coldstream has declared a state of emergency.
As of 1:30 Saturday morning, DriveBC was reporting that Highway 97 was closed in both directions but traffic could detour via Baily Road and Commonage Rd.
Firefighters from as far away as Lake Country were called in to assist.
Early Saturday morning, it appeared the fire was burning uphill, and away from homes on Clerke Road.
The District of Coldstream set up an Emergency Support Services Centre for evacuees at the Coldstream Municipal Hall at 9901 Kalamalka Road in Coldstream.
More details will be released, as they become available.
– with files from Darrian Matassa-Fung
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