Latest news with #CentralOkanagan
CTV News
2 days ago
- Climate
- CTV News
2 B.C. fires that forced evacuations on Vancouver Island, near Kelowna now being held
There's potentially good news coming for some of the hundreds of evacuees from the Wesley Ridge wildfire on Vancouver Island. Two wildfires that have forced people out of their homes in British Columbia are now classified as being held, although an evacuation order remains in effect for one of them that is burning on south-central Vancouver Island. An update from the BC Wildfire Service shows the other blaze that forced a tactical evacuation of about 25 homes near Kelowna, B.C., over the weekend is no longer expected to grow beyond its 2.5-hectare perimeter. All residents evacuated Sunday can now return home, while Central Okanagan Emergency Operations says three addresses are subject to evacuation alerts, with residents told to prepare for possible evacuation again on short notice. On Vancouver Island, the wildfire service has also updated the status of the Wesley Ridge blaze, which spans just under six square kilometres on the northern shore of Cameron Lake, about 60 kilometres northwest of Nanaimo. The service says it's not expected to grow beyond existing control lines, though the Regional District of Nanaimo website showed no change to an evacuation order last updated on Aug. 6. It was amended that day to allow some people to return home, while nearly 300 households remained on evacuation order for the blaze that is categorized as the province's only wildfire of note. An update from the wildfire service on Monday says the Wesley Ridge fire did not grow on Sunday and was displaying mostly rank-one fire behaviour, meaning a 'smouldering ground fire with no open flame.' The service says crews were continuing efforts to improve containment lines while directly attacking the fire along its northern, western and eastern flanks. The wildfire service had warned that fire behaviour could intensify with hot, dry and windy weather in southern parts of B.C., where Environment Canada has issued a series of heat warnings stretching from the coast to the Kamloops area. The weather agency says eastern and inland parts of Vancouver Island as well as the Sunshine Coast and the Sea to Sky region will see daytime highs reaching 30 C. The mercury was expected to hit 33 C in Metro Vancouver, while temperatures near 35 C were expected in the Fraser Canyon, South Thompson and South Okanagan areas. There are just under 100 active fires across B.C., with 11 classified as burning out of control. About 105 fires have been declared out in the last seven days. This report by Chuck Chiang and Brenna Owen, The Canadian Press, was first published Aug. 11, 2025.
CTV News
31-07-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
‘We had minutes to leave': Fast-moving wildfire forces evacuations in B.C.'s Okanagan
A plane drops retardant on a wildfire in Peachland, B.C., on Wednesday, July 30. A fast-moving wildfire near Peachland, B.C., believed to be sparked by a vehicle fire, has forced the evacuation of hundreds of homes and remains out of control. The Drought Hill wildfire ignited Wednesday afternoon along Highway 97 between Peachland and West Kelowna and rapidly spread up the dry hillside. As of Thursday morning, Highway 97 was single-lane, alternating traffic on the Okanagan Connector at the Highway 97C junction as a result. Drivers were urged to proceed with caution in the area and expect delays. The Central Okanagan Emergency Operations Centre issued an evacuation order on Wednesday affecting approximately 400 properties, and an additional 225 remain on evacuation alert. Patrick Van Minsel, the mayor of Peachland and one of the evacuees, said he was notified of the fire shortly before 3 p.m. Related: Full coverage of B.C.'s 2025 wildfire season 'The fire started around 2 or 2:20. It was caused by a vehicle that was on fire, and then it spread to a hillside,' he said. 'I was at a dinner meeting and got a warning around 2:45. I left my home within five minutes.' Van Minsel said first responders were already on scene when he arrived, working quickly to keep residents safe. 'There was already a huge response. Around 4 p.m. the evacuation order was issued for 400 homes, and people left very quietly, very organized. There was no panic,' he added. Reception centres were quickly opened to assist evacuees—one at West Kelowna's arena and another at Peachland's community centre. Evacuees who registered at the muster stations were provided with food, water and updates. 'We fed them, gave them drinks, kept them calm and communicated with them,' he said. 'The moment we knew something, they knew,' said Van Minsel. The wildfire spread with alarming speed, fueled by dry conditions and strong winds blowing up the hillside. 'It goes very, very fast,' Van Minsel said. 'The wind was coming from the north, blowing the fire uphill, and it's very dry here.' Fire crews, including support from neighbouring municipalities, responded with helicopters and air tankers. Fire retardant was dropped along the forest's edge to protect homes. As of Thursday morning, roughly 27 hectares had burned, with visible hotspots still smoldering. While the fire remains classified as 'out of control,' Van Minsel said there's reason for cautious optimism. 'I spoke this morning with my fire chief, and he seemed a little bit more relaxed. I like it when the fire chief is more relaxed,' he said. No homes have been reported lost, and no injuries have been reported. 'When embers were falling into people's yards, firefighters were already on every street. They went immediately and put them out,' Van Minsel said. 'The residents stayed calm and evacuated without panic, and that really helps.' Reception centres were reopening Thursday morning, and Van Minsel said ongoing updates will be posted on , the official information site for Central Okanagan emergencies. While parts of Peachland remain smoky, Van Minsel emphasized the town is still open for business. 'Our downtown is open. Restaurants will be open. But we do ask people to be careful,' he said, asking boaters to stay off the lake so helicopters can safely collect water. With the August long weekend approaching, he acknowledged concerns about tourism but encouraged people to monitor the situation and avoid unnecessary travel through impacted areas. 'If you don't have to travel toward West Kelowna from here, maybe just wait to hear back from EOC on next steps.' Emergency officials are expected to provide another update between 8:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. Thursday.
CBC
10-07-2025
- General
- CBC
Serval owner says regulation and permitting for exotic cats is needed, not a full-on ban
A serval owner and Bengal and Savannah cat breeder in B.C.'s Central Okanagan is raising concerns about the province's proposal to ban the breeding, sale and future ownership of all exotic and non-domestic cats, including servals, ocelots and European wildcats. In a news release on Tuesday, the province said the animals would be designated as "controlled alien species," a long list that includes, but is not limited to, animals like giraffes, hyenas, jaguars and polar bears. But Sonu De'cruze said it would be more appropriate to regulate breeders and owners and require permits rather than ban exotic cats altogether. De'cruze owns an eight-year-old serval named Uzi, who she described as "lovely," but who needs a lot of work. She's spent thousands of dollars on enclosures, both indoors and outside, so that Uzi can roam around. She changes up his environment regularly to combat boredom, and he has a giant cat wheel to walk on — like people walking on a treadmill, De'cruze said. She also doles out about $700 every month on food: a kibble mixture, raw meat and vitamins and supplements. "We've had to be very particular about his diet from when he was quite young, making sure that he was getting all of the proper nutrition," she said. De'cruze is committed to owning her serval, so much so that she doesn't take vacations, and when she and her husband have to leave for emergencies, there are a select few people they call to care for Uzi. It's a lot. And it's something De'cruze realizes isn't for everyone, and said it probably shouldn't be. But, she said, a ban on the cats altogether may be too hasty. She worries the ban will force breeders and owners "underground," and that these cats won't receive proper care because owners will be afraid to take them to the vet. "It's just gonna be worse for these cats, if people are being forced to kind of do everything in secret." De'cruze also breeds Bengal and Savannah cats. While neither breed was specifically mentioned in the province's release, they're often lumped in with the ones that were. Not only is she concerned she won't be able to own servals in the future, but she's also concerned for her business. "I'm kind of just sitting in limbo at this point, waiting to see what happens." B.C. exotic cat breeder Catherine Joyal said in an email to CBC News that she is heartbroken by the proposal of this ban. "It's a sad situation," Joyal said. "I understand the need for regulation, but I wish the focus were on education and responsible ownership, not on punishing the animals themselves." She agreed with De'cruze that exotic cat ownership is not for everyone. "When raised properly, they can become affectionate, loyal, and truly extraordinary companions." Lawyer wants to see ban expanded Lawyer Rebeka Breder, who specializes in animal law, said that while she understands why someone would want to own an exotic cat, "there's absolutely no need whatsoever." "The bottom line is that they suffer in captivity," she said. "When an exotic animal, when a wild animal or an animal that's supposed to be wild still has in his genes and instincts to travel hundreds of kilometres and to have a wide territory and to have a wide variety of different things that they eat, their welfare needs simply cannot be met in a home environment." Breder wants to see the ban extended to other animals, like boa constrictors. The B.C. SPCA has been an open supporter of a ban on exotic cats, encouraging British Columbians to sign their petition calling for the regulation of all exotic animals. The organization said the cats are a public safety risk. Two servals escaped from a breeder on Vancouver Island in 2022, and killed a domestic cat and multiple domestic ducks before they were captured, the organization said. "People were really scared," B.C. SPCA chief scientific officer Sara Dubois told CBC News. "They didn't want their kids walking to the school bus because again, these are 40-pound, large, lanky animals, and they could be defensively aggressive." Further consideration De'cruze thinks the ban proposal stems from when, in 2019, the SPCA seized 13 servals from a breeder near Kamloops, B.C., after they were found living in "horrific conditions." At the time, the SPCA said that the idea of these cats living in captivity was "disturbing enough," let alone in substandard conditions. On July 9, the SPCA confirmed in an email to CBC News that no charges were ever submitted in that case. "The people that actually caused the problem in the first place are walking free," De'cruze said. "Now everybody else is just getting penalized." De'cruze hopes a little more consideration goes into the ban. While current owners would be able to keep their cats until their deaths as long as they apply for free permits, De'cruze does hope that when Uzi passes, she may be able to get another serval. "We would like to have the option to have another one if, at that time in our life, we know that we'll be able to provide the same level of care that we provided for our cat, Uzi."
