Bear Creek fire as seen from Kelowna, Monday, August 22, 2016

(JOHN MCDONALD / iNFOnews.ca)

WESTSIDE ROAD CLOSED IN BOTH DIRECTIONS

KELOWNA - Bear Creek Provincial Park, the Trader’s Cove subdivision and at least 150 other properties remain evacuated as a wildfire that has now grown to 25 hectares burns near Bear Creek. 

Late last night the areas were evacuated as the fire threatened the area. By 3 a.m. 60 people had registered at an Emergency Support Centre at the West Kelowna Lions Hall at  2466 Main St. in West Kelowna. The centre closed at 3 a.m. and is reopening at 9 a.m, according to a press release.

Cool overnight temperatures and low winds helped crews monitoring and patrolling the Bear Creek wildfire.

So far no dwellings have been lost to the fire although some outbuildings like sheds may be damaged, according to emergency officials.

Structural fire crews from West Kelowna, Peachland, Wilson’s Landing and firefighters from the BC Wildfire Service have spent the overnight hours putting out hotspots along the perimeter of the fire.

Homes in the Pine Point subdivision north of Trader’s Cove are on evacuation alert and Westside Road is closed between Bear Creak Road and the Pine Point subdivision.

Boaters are being asked to stay from the area near Bear Creek on Okanagan Lake.

The Evacuation Order remains in place and affects approximately 156 properties including the Bear Creek Provincial Park campground, Trader’s Cove subdivision, and properties along Bear Creek Road north of the Parkinson Road intersection including Dougmac, Rose Valley and Petterson Roads.

Another 14 properties in the Pine Point subdivision off Westside Road, north of Traders Cove remain on Evacuation Alert. Those residents should be prepared to leave on short notice should conditions change.

Westside Road is closed between Bear Creek Road and Pine Point subdivision.

Visit the CORD emergency site for more information here.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Brendan Kergin or call 250-819-6089 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. 

News from © iNFOnews, 2016