Some flights resume at Kelowna airport as wildfire stops spreading
Some flights have now resumed at Kelowna International Airport, after wildfire crews working in the area had to shut down the airspace.
The Whelan Creek Wildfire is currently classified as 'being held,' which means officials believe it won't spread any further.
However, it did get dangerously close to some homes over the weekend.
Air tankers and helicopters were dispatched to the Ellison area around 3:30 p.m. Sunday afternoon.
The fire started on a hill behind the airport. The flames spread quickly, coming close to homes.
The BC Wildfire Service closed airspace around YLW for several hours, delaying or cancelling a number of flights, but it has since reopened.
Seven properties on Rockface Road and Dead Pine drive were on evacuation order overnight, while another 106 were put on evacuation alert.
The fire is listed as 'human caused,' though it's unclear whether it was sparked by accident or intentionally.
It has burned 4.3 hectares so far.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CTV News
4 hours ago
- CTV News
3 rescued from Ottawa River after falling out of boat
Three boaters were rescued from the Ottawa River after falling into the water in the city's west end Sunday afternoon. The Ottawa Fire Services say they received a 911 call reporting the incident in the Shirley's Bay area at approximately 5:23 p.m. On arrival, a water rescue team was launched to assist the individuals in the water, who were all wearing personal flotation devices (PFDs). All three individuals were pulled out of the water just under 20 minutes after falling in, the fire service said in a news release. An Ottawa paramedics spokesperson says an ambulance was called to the scene but no injuries were reported. On late Friday evening, crews rescued a kayaker who got stuck for around three hours near Shirley's Bay. Ottawa firefighters have been busy assisting swimmers and boaters in distress this summer, notably around the Deschênes Rapids. Officials have been urging residents to stay safe by always wearing a lifejacket or PFD on or near waterways.
CTV News
7 hours ago
- CTV News
‘Perfect conditions for picking': Berry farms around Edmonton prepare for big season
Berry farms are opening their picking season in the Edmonton area, on July 20, 2025. (Marek Tkach/CTV News Edmonton) Berry farmers in the Edmonton area are thanking the rain as they prepare for a huge picking season this summer. Horse Hill Berry Farm located northeast of Edmonton opened their gates to berry pickers last week with plenty of raspberries up for grabs. • The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App Anna Clunas, the marketing manager for the farm, told CTV News Edmonton their opening day was one for the books. '(It) was one of the best opening days we've had in years, and maybe ever … I think there (were) close to 200 people that came out,' Clunas said Sunday. She said heavy rain in May and June resulted in the amount of berries produced this season and hopes more pickers come to keep the momentum going. 'Our weekend was a little slow this opening week because of the weather, but today (was) perfect conditions for picking. Not too hot, not too sunny, and no rain,' she said. 'If the weather holds out for next weekend and for the rest of the week, we expect lots of folks to keep coming out to pick.' According to Tim Darragh, the owner of the Big Rock Berry Farm located southeast of the city, plenty of visitors have been coming through taking buckets of berries. 'We get lots of interest from our loyal pickers early on within the berry patch, and they come out in full force the first three or four times that we open up,' said Darragh. 'We've got probably more berries on the trees than we've ever seen … and the size of the berries is fantastic,' he added. Darragh said it typically takes a person 20 to 30 minutes to pick an entire bucket in previous years, but this year pickers are clearing 10 to 15 minutes. 'It's easy picking for them, and that just makes it that much easier for them to come out and enjoy their time.' The Horse Hill Berry Farm and Big Rock Berry Farm websites have additional information about their picking schedule posted online. With files from CTV News Edmonton's Marek Tkach
CTV News
9 hours ago
- CTV News
Localized flooding reported in southern Saskatchewan following string of thunderstorms
Some localized flooding was reported in Eston, Sask. on July 19, 2025. (Courtesy: Verna Robinson) A string of thunderstorms in southern Saskatchewan on Saturday led to some localized flooding in several communities, including Eston, Sask. Social media was similarly flooded by images of standing water in residential areas. According to Brad Vrolijk, lead forecaster with Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), rainfall accumulations weren't overly excessive – but the speed at which the storms moved into some areas was. 'It's not necessarily how much rain overall you get, it's how quickly you get it,' he told CTV News. 'We did also get some reports of overland flooding.' The area east of the Cypress Hills through Shaunavon, to Assiniboia to south of Regina were all at the receiving end of the round of thunderstorms and reported the most rainfall. Pictures from Assiniboia and Eston, Sask. show standing water in some areas. Residents could be seen wading through knee-high water – while others brought out canoes and kayaks to travel through the newly created lakes. Eston, Sask. flooding Some localized flooding was reported in Eston, Sask. on July 19, 2025. (Courtesy: Verna Robinson) Thunderstorm warnings are issued when the ECCC forecasts more than 50 millimetres (mm) of precipitation in an hour. Only one location southeast of Swift Current reported receiving rainfall over the threshold - with 51.6 mm. 'Everywhere else was in-between 15 mm and 30 mm for the most part, which is pretty typical amounts for thunderstorms,' Vrolijk explained. 'Every city's' storm systems are different. So, every city has different thresholds on what rate of rainfall will result in this type of overland flooding … Apparently yesterday, those 15 to 30 mm fell quickly enough that there was some temporary overland flooding.' According to Vrolijk, the storms developed as a result of a low-pressure system that was building over Alberta. Through Sunday and into Monday – there will be an ongoing thunderstorm risk in the south. 'We had the convection yesterday, and then we're going to have some more thunderstorms develop again, primarily south of the Trans-Canada Highway corridor today … tomorrow night, we're looking at probably another big system developing in Montana, and then pushing into southeast Saskatchewan,' he explained. 'So, kind of three days in a row with a chance for rain and thunderstorms for the region.' As of 4:30 p.m. Sunday, a severe thunderstorm warning is active for the area surrounding Regina, Shaunavon in the southwest and a swath of the province's southeast corner including Redvers, Carievale and Elmore.
