Flare-ups, hot spots, power repairs keep crews busy on McDougall Creek fire
Fire crews are making progress on the McDougall Creek wildfire, but there continues to be flare-ups.
Overnight, crews noted increased fire behaviour in the Powers Creek Drainage, which is expected to continue today (Aug. 31) due to sustained winds from the northwest.
“BC Wildfire and West Kelowna Fire Rescue have been mobilized to respond to the increased activity,” a news release from Central Okanagan Emergency Operations (COEO) stated.
The fire remains classified by BC Wildfire as out of control and is estimated at 13,712 hectares, with growth from planned ignitions and the aforementioned activity in the Powers Creek Drainage.
“Yesterday, structure protection personnel completed a structural defense plan for the community of Glenrosa and three heavy equipment task force teams continue to work in the area,” COEO said.
Over the past 72 hours, crews have also focused on extinguishing hot spots adjacent to properties along Westside Road. Wilson’s Landing Fire Department has a bush truck out in the area patrolling neighbourhoods to monitor and extinguish hot spots.
One of the major challenges BC Hydro crews are addressing are power outages within affected areas. The fire caused significant damage to the electrical infrastructure in the area with approximately 27 kilometres of power lines, 359 poles and 66 pieces of other equipment needing to be replaced.
As of Thursday morning, an estimated 487 properties were under evacuation order, while 20,029 properties were under evacuation alert.
Of the properties on order, 307 are within RDCO Electoral Area West, 142 are in the City of West Kelowna and 38 are within Westbank First Nation.
In the last 24 hours, the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) downgraded the evacuation order for four Bear Creek Road properties in West Kelowna Estates of West Kelowna and rescinded the evacuation alerts for Boucherie Industrial Area and WFN IR9 and IR10.
A resiliency centre located on Westbank First Nation lands opened Thursday to support wildfire evacuees and those experiencing loss following the McDougall Creek fire.
The centre is a place for people impacted by wildfires in the Central Okanagan to connect with the services they need in a safe and supportive environment. The centre, located at 403 – 3031 Louie Drive, will serve as a single point of contact to provide supports and information from a variety of government, non-governmental organizations and agencies.
Services providers include:
- Community case workers
- Insurance Board of Canada
- Service Canada
- Service BC
- Ministry services
- ICBC
- Samaritan’s Purse
The centre is open daily from 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. until further notice and is located at 403 – 3031 Louie Drive. The centre can be reached by phone at 250-707-3454.