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National Observer
01-08-2025
- Climate
- National Observer
Dozens of new fires in BC, amid evacuations and alerts
There's been a surge in wildfire activity in British Columbia associated with this week's high temperatures and thousands of lightning strikes, with dozens of new fires sparked in just one day. Multiple evacuation orders were in place across the province on Thursday, including for lakefront properties near Nanaimo on Vancouver Island, homes in the Okanagan Valley and two First Nation reserves near Lytton. By late Thursday, the BC Wildfire Service online dashboard showed more than 40 new fires in the past 24 hours. Almost half of the more than 90 fires burning across the province were started since Wednesday and the service said that number is expected to rise. "Yesterday, approximately 13,167 lightning strikes were recorded across B.C., with over 9,000 occurring within the Prince George Fire Centre," the service said in a statement on Thursday. It said with the hot and dry conditions this week, "fuels are extremely susceptible to ignition." Emergency officials in the Okanagan Valley said the hot temperatures made fighting a fire near Peachland difficult, although firefighting efforts on Wednesday helped tame the blaze. A statement from Central Okanagan Emergency Operations said aerial drops of fire retardant and water were effective in reducing fire behaviour. The fire was displaying rank-two fire behaviour, meaning "a surface fire with some open flame and a slow to moderate rate of spread," the emergency agency said. The blaze spread quickly on Wednesday, forcing police and fire crews to go door-to-door to evacuate residents from about 400 properties near Peachland. Another 225 properties were put on evacuation alert due to the fire that started Wednesday afternoon and quickly spread through tinder-dry brush. By Thursday, alerts and orders had been downgraded, with residents at 118 properties told they still had to stay out, while 490 properties were on evacuation alert. The operations centre said in a statement that no structural loss was reported. Emily Gow with Todd's Lakeside RV, located south of the blaze, said it was 'just up the highway,' but the business was not among the evacuated properties. Gow said she could see flames on Wednesday, but by Thursday the fire appeared to have calmed down. 'They're only dealing with little hot spots. There's no raging fire that's blooming all over the place.' She said guests were concerned the fire could get out of hand, but staff from the area weren't as worried. 'We've got guests anywhere from up the road to in Europe staying with us right now, so people were having a mixed range of emotions toward the fire,' she said, adding guests from Switzerland had checked in at about 11 p.m. Wednesday after delays due to highway closures in the area. Environment Canada has issued more than two dozen heat warnings in B.C., including in the central Okanagan, where temperatures could reach 38 C on Thursday. Temperatures were expected to moderate on Friday, a weather statement said. On Vancouver Island, an evacuation order was issued for properties in the Nanaimo region including waterfront properties on the north side of Cameron Lake and a portion of Little Qualicum Falls Provincial Park. Rebecca Taylor, a spokesperson for the Nanaimo Regional District, said "a few dozen" properties were covered by the evacuation order. A statement from the district said additional properties to the northeast of the lake are under an evacuation alert, meaning residents should be ready to leave if required. The Lytton First Nation issued an evacuation order Thursday for two sparsely populated reserves due to immediate danger posed by the out-of-control wildfire nearby, about 10 kilometres south of the village of Lytton. The order said residents were to leave the Lytton 26A and Skwayaynope 26 reserves immediately and head to a reception centre. Officials with the Lytton First Nation said there are only two households on the reservation plots, one of which is unoccupied, while the other belongs to a member of the First Nation firefighting team on the front lines of the fire. A spokesman for the First Nation said it was not the same area evacuated in June 2021, when much of Lytton was destroyed by a wildfire and two people were killed. The current Lytton wildfire was recently measured at 6.5 square kilometres and continues to burn out of control, causing the Thompson-Nicola Regional District and local First Nations to issue a series of evacuation alerts this week. Barj Dehaan said he was driving back home to Vancouver on Wednesday when he started seeing smoke about 30 kilometres east of Lytton. "As I got closer, I could see this huge plume of smoke. And as I got closer, I could see the literal fire as well, trees on fire. I have not seen a live fire like that before,' he said Thursday. He said the region has been very hot. "The air quality was poor, and I could feel a burning sensation in my throat, strong smell of burning wood. And then I started thinking about the people who live in that town, that here they are again, having to deal with a fire that seems to be out of control,' he said. The BC Wildfire Service has meanwhile upgraded a blaze in the Fraser Valley to a "wildfire of note" and is warning campers to leave the Harrison Lake area as roads are closed ahead of the long weekend. The 65-hectare Bear Creek fire is the first fire of note in B.C. since July 9, when the Izman Creek blaze near Lytton lost that status. — With files from CHNL
National Observer
31-07-2025
- Climate
- National Observer
Wildfire evacuations are underway for about 400 properties near Peachland, BC
Police are helping firefighters from several local departments evacuate residents from about 400 properties in the Peachland, BC, area due to a fast-moving wildfire. Central Okanagan Emergency Operations issued a bulletin just after 5 p.m. Wednesday saying tactical evacuations were underway. "An evaluation of the situation is underway and specific details will be released as they are confirmed," the agency said. "Public safety and the safety of emergency response personnel are the primary concerns at this time." Residents of properties east of Trepanier Bench Road, south of Highway 97C and north of Highway 97 should be prepared to be away from their homes for an "extended period of time," it said. Evacuees can temporarily report to the Peachland Community Centre, while a muster centre has been opened at Royal LePage Place in West Kelowna for those who cannot reach the other centre, the agency said. It said later in the day that the evacuation order would remain in place for about 48 hours and emergency personnel would reassess the situation in the morning. The fire is burning about two kilometres north of Peachland. It has forced the closure of Highway 97 between Peachland and West Kelowna, while Highway 97C, the Okanagan Connecter, is also closed from West Kelowna to 22 kilometres southeast of Merritt, the province's driver information system shows. The BC Wildfire Service website shows the so-called Drought Hill fire spanned 27 hectares, up from 12 hectares earlier Wednesday. While the estimated size of the fire increased, the service said the use of water and fire retardant had been "effective at cooling fire behaviour." "The fire behaviour has decreased to rank two and rank three, meaning a low to moderate surface fire with open flame, occasional candling and a low to moderate rate of spread," the service said in an update posted to its website. It said 18 firefighters were responding to the blaze with support from three helicopters and other aircraft. Crews were using Okanagan Lake to pick up water to douse the flames, and the service has asked people on the lake to give the aircraft room. "We are responding with initial attack crews, response officers, structure protection personnel and aerial support, including helicopters, tankers and skimmers," the service said in a social media post. The wildfire service lists human activity as the suspected cause of the blaze. A photo posted to social media with a caption saying "wildfire burning in Peachland, near Drought Hill," shows a truck engulfed in flames parked near the side of a road. The BC government has said tactical evacuations happen when there is an immediate threat to public safety, and if the threat continues, a strategic evacuation would be declared by local governments and First Nations. In addition to the roughly 400 properties under an evacuation order, Central Okanagan Emergency Operations issued an evacuation alert for about 225 other properties late Wednesday, with residents being warned to be ready to leave at a moment's notice. The Cantilever Bar wildfire burning south of Lytton has meanwhile been mapped at 4.6 square kilometres, up from the previous estimate of 1.5 square kilometres. The larger estimate came after the smoke cleared enough to allow aircraft to fly overhead and provide more accurate perimeter mapping, the wildfire service said. The Thompson-Nicola Regional District and three local First Nations have issued evacuation alerts due to the fire. The blaze is about 10 kilometres south of Lytton, a community devastated by fire in 2021, burning on the west side of the Fraser River. More than two dozen firefighters are responding to the blaze, where "conditions are very dry and fuels are highly susceptible to ignition," the wildfire service said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 30, 2025.
Economic Times
31-07-2025
- Climate
- Economic Times
Wildfire prompts evacuations for 400 properties near Peachland, B.C.
A BC Wildfire Service helicopter draws water from Okanagan Lake to fight the Drought Hill fire near Peachland, B.C., on July 30, 2025. The wildfire has prompted tactical evacuations and major highway closures in the Central Okanagan region Wildfire forces evacuations and highway closures near Peachland, B.C. Tactical evacuations are underway for approximately 400 properties due to a rapidly advancing wildfire burning between Peachland and West Kelowna, British Columbia. According to Central Okanagan Emergency Operations, the Drought Hill fire is posing an immediate threat to public safety, prompting action to protect residents in the region. Properties affected include those located east of Trepanier Bench Road, south of Highway 97C, and north of Highway 97. Officials are advising residents to be prepared for an extended period away from their homes. Also read: Wildfire triggers highway 97C closures and tactical evacuations in B.C.'s Okanagan Tactical evacuations are initiated in response to imminent danger, the B.C. government noted. If the wildfire threat persists, a formal strategic evacuation may be issued by local governments and First Nations. The wildfire has also disrupted transportation infrastructure in the area. Highway 97 has been closed between Peachland and West Kelowna. In addition, Highway 97C is closed from West Kelowna to a point 22 kilometers southeast of Wildfire Service deploys aircraft and ground crews to drought hill fireThe BC Wildfire Service confirmed that the Drought Hill fire is burning approximately two kilometers north of Peachland. Response teams include 18 firefighters, three helicopters, and additional crews are utilizing nearby Okanagan Lake as a water source for aerial suppression. Authorities are requesting that recreational lake users stay clear of the area to ensure the safety and effectiveness of aircraft operations."Avoiding interference with aerial firefighting operations is critical," the BC Wildfire Service said in a Okanagan Emergency Operations indicated that formal evacuation alerts are expected to be issued shortly, as the wildfire situation continues to evolve. These alerts serve as official warnings that residents should be ready to leave if the situation Drought Hill fire is one of several active fires in British Columbia during the ongoing wildfire season, which has been intensified by dry conditions and elevated temperatures across the region. Also read: Montreal tops world pollution rankings as wildfire smoke chokes the city This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 30, 2025.
Vancouver Sun
31-07-2025
- Climate
- Vancouver Sun
Peachland wildfire: Evacuations underway for about 400 properties
PEACHLAND — Tactical evacuations are underway for about 400 properties due to a fast moving wildfire burning between Peachland and West Kelowna. Central Okanagan Emergency Operations says residents of properties east of Trepanier Bench Road, south of Highway 97C and north of Highway 97 should be prepared to be away from their homes for an 'extended period of time.' The B.C. government says tactical evacuations happen when there is an immediate threat to public safety, and if the threat continues, a strategic evacuation will be declared by local governments and First Nations. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. The fire has also forced the closure of Highway 97 between Peachland and West Kelowna, while Highway 97C is closed from West Kelowna to 22 kilometres southeast of Merritt. The B.C. Wildfire Service says the so-called Drought Hill fire is burning about two kilometres north of Peachland and 18 firefighters are responding to the blaze with support from three helicopters and other aircraft. The service says its crews are using Okanagan Lake to pick up water to douse the flames, and they're asking people on the lake to give the aircraft room. The bulletin from Central Okanagan Emergency Operations says evacuation alerts would be issued shortly.
Time of India
31-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Wildfire prompts evacuations for 400 properties near Peachland, B.C.
Wildfire forces evacuations and highway closures near Peachland, B.C. Tactical evacuations are underway for approximately 400 properties due to a rapidly advancing wildfire burning between Peachland and West Kelowna, British Columbia. According to Central Okanagan Emergency Operations, the Drought Hill fire is posing an immediate threat to public safety, prompting action to protect residents in the region. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Digital Marketing Healthcare MCA healthcare Leadership Degree Public Policy Operations Management MBA Artificial Intelligence Data Analytics Data Science Project Management Product Management Cybersecurity Finance Design Thinking others CXO Management Others Data Science Technology PGDM Skills you'll gain: Digital Marketing Strategies Customer Journey Mapping Paid Advertising Campaign Management Emerging Technologies in Digital Marketing Duration: 12 Weeks Indian School of Business Digital Marketing and Analytics Starts on May 14, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Digital Marketing Strategy Search Engine Optimization (SEO) & Content Marketing Social Media Marketing & Advertising Data Analytics & Measurement Duration: 24 Weeks Indian School of Business Professional Certificate Programme in Digital Marketing Starts on Jun 26, 2024 Get Details Properties affected include those located east of Trepanier Bench Road, south of Highway 97C, and north of Highway 97. Officials are advising residents to be prepared for an extended period away from their homes. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Villas In Dubai | Search Ads Get Quote Undo Also read: Wildfire triggers highway 97C closures and tactical evacuations in B.C.'s Okanagan Tactical evacuations are initiated in response to imminent danger, the B.C. government noted. If the wildfire threat persists, a formal strategic evacuation may be issued by local governments and First Nations. Live Events The wildfire has also disrupted transportation infrastructure in the area. Highway 97 has been closed between Peachland and West Kelowna. In addition, Highway 97C is closed from West Kelowna to a point 22 kilometers southeast of Merritt. BC Wildfire Service deploys aircraft and ground crews to drought hill fire The BC Wildfire Service confirmed that the Drought Hill fire is burning approximately two kilometers north of Peachland. Response teams include 18 firefighters, three helicopters, and additional aircraft. Firefighting crews are utilizing nearby Okanagan Lake as a water source for aerial suppression. Authorities are requesting that recreational lake users stay clear of the area to ensure the safety and effectiveness of aircraft operations. "Avoiding interference with aerial firefighting operations is critical," the BC Wildfire Service said in a statement. Central Okanagan Emergency Operations indicated that formal evacuation alerts are expected to be issued shortly, as the wildfire situation continues to evolve. These alerts serve as official warnings that residents should be ready to leave if the situation escalates. The Drought Hill fire is one of several active fires in British Columbia during the ongoing wildfire season, which has been intensified by dry conditions and elevated temperatures across the region. Also read: Montreal tops world pollution rankings as wildfire smoke chokes the city This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 30, 2025.
