Jayden Wasney
UPDATE: 7:48 pm
Evacuation warnings for the areas around the Peachland Maranatha Wildfire have been lifted as the fire is officially under control and officials have classified the area as safe to the public. A house was lost in the fire.
Nine fire brigade members of the BC Wildfire Service are on site with a water tender. The fire remains at 0.9 hectares.
“There is no visible smoke and the status is under control,” said Sam Ryan, fire intelligence officer for the BC Wildfire Service. The fire fighters are still expected to continue working until dark and not have to tend the fire overnight.
The properties on Maranatha Drive that were tactically evacuated by the RCMP are now allowed to return to their homes. A detailed map with the affected properties can be found at cordemergency.ca
The evacuation alert has been lifted by Central Okanagan Emergency Operations for all properties in the Maranatha area of Peachland District.
“Although the evacuation warnings have been lifted, conditions in the Central Okanagan remain hot and dry. Residents and visitors should be vigilant and be aware that the risk of fire is still extreme. Central Okanagan’s emergency officers encourage everyone to be safe with fire or smoking materials. In the areas that allow campfires, please keep them small and ensure that they are completely extinguished. Bonfires and other outdoor wood-burning devices are not allowed in the city of Kelowna at any time, ”the statement said.
If you see smoke from wildfire, report it at * 5555 from a cell phone or 1-800-663-5555. If your life is in danger, call 9-1-1.
UPDATE: 5:25 pm
The BC Wildfire Service firefighters are continuing to make strong strides against Saturday’s Peachland fire, which is maintaining its “on hold” classification, making it possible to reduce firefighting efforts while monitoring the area.
“I’m not guessing we’ll be there overnight as it’s a pretty small fire and they’ve made really good progress and it’s only five o’clock,” said Madison Smith, fire intelligence officer for the BC Wildfire Service.
The crews are expected to continue working until dark and not have to participate in the fire overnight.
Smith said there are currently only 11 BCWS officers on site and the helicopter has left the area.
“This is a really good thing because it means they are making great strides,” added Smith.
Several residents were evacuated from their homes, and many who were outside at the time of the fire were not allowed to enter after the crews locked Princeton Avenue.
Other homes were not affected, but the flames spread to a nearby forest before crews could get a grip on them. The fire reached a size of 0.9 hectares.
The fire was extinguished by an air tanker and helicopter and 31 BCWS firefighters, not counting the Peachland department firefighters.
A local resident watched the fire from his driveway.
“The flames got pretty high, I mean, they definitely extended over 30 feet. It seemed like that from my perspective above the trees, and I was just seeing numerous fire engines coming down, we had a couple of water bombers braking, and then came “Helicopters have been dropping water in the last hour,” he explained.
He also mentioned that he heard the sound of an explosion shortly after the fire started, but said the crews reacted quickly to the incident.
Cortni Berke lives near the scene of the fire and was out running errands before the police told her she was not allowed to enter her home.
Her husband was still at home packing some personal items as well as her pets in case the flames spread. Berke added that she was already concerned about the risk of a fire season.
“Absolutely. I’m definitely worried. If it starts that hot, this will be a bloody year, I think it will be bad,” said Berke.
– With Jayden Wasney’s files
Photo: Bruce Gowan
UPDATE: 3:52 pm
The BC Wildfire Service has fought the intense fire in a house in Peachland that has now been classified as detained.
“Adequate extinguishing measures have been taken and the fire is unlikely to spread beyond existing or predetermined limits,” said Madison Smith, fire intelligence officer for the BC Wildfire Service.
Smith stated that the fire reached 0.9 acres before it was contained by the BC Forest Fire Brigades and Peachland Fire Department. An air tanker and helicopter also helped contain the fire.
Castanet reporter Jayden Wasney was there and said the house was lost to the fire but other homes in the area could not be reached. The fire spread to the surrounding area and the forest.
The fire now seems to be smoldering, mostly smoking in the area while the firefighters work to maintain the fire lines.
The Emergency Operations Center was activated to support the BC Wildfire Service, West Kelowna, Kelowna and Joe Rich fire fighters.
All properties on Maranatha Drive have been tactically evacuated by the RCMP and the evacuated residents are taking refuge in the Peachland Community Center under the care of ESS volunteers.
An evacuation alert has been issued for all properties in the following areas:
- Bradbury Street
- Forest Hill Drive
- Right street
- Pine Ridge Road and Pine Ridge Place
- Powell Road
- Princeton Avenue
- Silver crt
- Thompson Drive
A detailed map with the affected properties is available at cordemergency.ca.
Residents with evacuation alarms are asked to leave at short notice if conditions change and to be away from home for long periods of time, make arrangements for pets, and pack important items such as medication and important documents. Please see the Be Prepared page for more information.
Emergency personnel are urging the public to avoid the area so that the crew can operate effectively and monitor the Central Okanagan emergency response site for updates.
UPDATE: 2:45 pm
A number of residents near the fire over Peachland were evacuated by the RCMP on Saturday afternoon.
Matt Proulx lives about a block from the fire on Maranatha Drive, and he says an RCMP officer should leave him shortly after 2 p.m. Proulx says the entire Pineridge Road neighborhood has been evacuated.
The BC Wildfire Service says that only one house has been affected by the fire so far.
BC Wildfire Service fire intelligence officer Madison Smith says the house fire on Maranatha Drive spread to the surrounding forest and burned an area of two acres.
The BC Wildfire Service supports the Peachland Fire Department with 31 firefighters as well as an air tanker and a helicopter that hits the fire from above.
Smith couldn’t tell if the fire was still growing, but noted that the fire was still classified as “out of control”.
Photo: BC Wildfire Service
UPDATE: 1:30 pm
Air tankers drop fire retardants on the fire over Peachland Saturday afternoon to stop the spread before it grows.
The fire started as a house fire on Maranatha Drive, near Princeton Avenue, around noon. The house quickly caught fire and the fire spread to the surrounding forest.
It’s not clear how big the fire got at this point, but a Castanet reporter is on his way to the crime scene.
Joan Niemeier, who lives nearby, posted on Facebook: “One house away, planes here now, but the wind has come up. We’re organizing just in case.”
The BC Wildfire Service has yet to respond to Castanet’s inquiries regarding the fire.
UPDATE: 1pm
The large cloud of black smoke over Peachland on Saturday afternoon came from a house fire on Princeton Avenue, but the fire can spread to the surrounding forest.
A house near Princeton Avenue on Maranatha Drive caught fire around 12:15 p.m. and photos from the crime scene show it was completely on fire.
The BC Wildfire Service responds to the fire with air support, and at least one air tanker and bird watcher can be seen in the vicinity of the fire.
Bruce and Judy Gowen live nearby, and they said the fire department arrived at the scene around 12:30 p.m. The fire has started to spread to the surrounding forest.
Castanet is waiting for more information from the BC Wildfire Service.
ORIGINAL: 12:30 p.m.
A fire burns over Peachland on Saturday afternoon.
The fire sends a large cloud of dark smoke into the air in the hills behind Peachland in the Princeton Avenue area.
It wasn’t until 12.15 p.m. that the smoke was noticeable, but a witness said it was “really going now”.
It is unclear what is on fire at this point. Castanet will have more information on the fire as it becomes available.
Photo: Colin Dacre
A fire burned over Peachland on Saturday.
