(JENNIFER STAHN / iNFOnews.ca)
August 17, 2023 - 7:14 AM
As many as 4,800 properties and Bear Creek Provincial Park were put on evacuation alert at 11:24 p.m. last night, Aug. 16, due to the McDougal Creek Wildfire.
The fire, which is 10 kilometres northwest of West Kelowna, was spotted at 6 p.m. Tuesday and grew to 64 ha by 9 p.m. last night.
“Weather alerts issued by Environment Canada are advising of gusty winds Thursday and overnight Friday may worsen wildfire conditions and possible new fire starts,” the alert, issued by the Central Okanagan Emergency Operations Centre, warns.
READ MORE: Heat, heavy smoke, wind and dry lightning expected today throughout the Southern Interior
The alert covers properties south of Bear Creek Main and includes large subdivisions like West Kelowna Estates and parts of Westbank First Nations reserves #9 and #10.
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“Residents in the area are advised to be ready to leave their home at a moment’s notice,” the alert says. “They should be prepared to be away from their home for an extended period of time, make arrangements for pets and pack essential items such as medicines and important documents.”
People can re-register, here, for Emergency Support Services should an Evacuation Order be declared.
The regional district has also closed four parks in the alert zone including Traders Cover Regional Park, Raymer Bay Regional Park, Rose Valley Regional Park and Upper Glen Canyon Regional Park from lower Glenrosa to Smith Creek.
The closures were put in place to protect public safety and to limit the number of people in the evacuation alert area, the regional district said in a media release. Residents are asked to respect signage, watch for barricades and stay out of the parks until further notice.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
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