UPDATE: 8 p.m.
The Mount Law forest fire continues to burn on an estimated 800 acres and is out of control.
According to BC Wildfire, cooler temperatures and a little light rain help at the front, but extremely dry conditions remain.
An additional 18 properties in the Central Okanagan and Peachland counties have been added to the Mount Law Fire Evacuation Alert Area.
Properties added to the existing warning area range from 4740 Trepanier Road (northwest end) to 4980 Trepanier Road (southeast end) and include:
4850 to 4855 MacKinnon Road
4802 to 4995 Trepanier Road
4902 to 4975 Sternplatz
Residents in the alarm areas are asked to leave their homes immediately.
The EOC has also extended an evacuation order to Crown Land in the southeast corner of the fire.
The expansion contract does not include private property. The Gorman Mill site is still under evacuation alert.
All other evacuation warnings and orders remain in effect.
For a map of the affected properties, click here.
UPDATE 6:20 pm
Wildfire activity at Mount Law has decreased significantly from earlier in the day.
The strong wind has subsided and most of the fire seems to be smoldering on the ground for the time being. Trees are no longer burning and the plume of smoke has decreased.
At the moment there is some very light rain in the Central Okanagan.
All evacuation warnings and orders remain in place.
Photo: BCWS
An approximate amount of wildfire at Mount Law in Glenrosa
UPDATE 3:55 PM
In the central Okanagan, the wind has picked up again, making the work of firefighters fighting the forest fire in Mount Law more difficult.
Kelowna Airport is currently reporting winds from the northwest at 37 km / h in gusts of up to 46 km / h.
Environment Canada predicts these winds will continue tonight and gradually ease. There is also the possibility of rain showers inland on Monday afternoons with possible lightning strikes.
Central Okanagan Emergency Operations and BC Wildfire haven’t released an update on the fire since around noon.
UPDATE 12 noon
West Kelowna Fire Department chief Jason Brolund said a “small number” of buildings in Glenrosa were damaged by the Mount Law forest fire Sunday night.
At the height of the inferno on Sunday night, 25 fire engines and 80 firefighters from eight municipal fire departments fought the flames in Glenrosa.
Eight trucks from six departments remain on site, supported by 22 wildland firefighters, heavy equipment and air support.
“We are actively fighting fires in the backyards of homes on a number of streets in Upper Glenrosa, and we will continue to do so today,” said Brolund. Their primary goal is structural protection in the neighborhood.
The crews worked frantically through the night to guard Glenrosa.
Aside from the “small number of structures” that were affected, Brolund said they were “very successful in last night’s operations”.
He was unable to provide any information on the structural losses.
“Because this is a dynamic and changing situation. Today our focus is still on fighting fires, ”he said.
Brolund said the Mount Law fire caused heavy showers Sunday night and was sighted “on numerous occasions”.
“And that is certainly why some of the decisions that have been made in areas such as evacuation orders to make sure people were out of the way so we could do our work in those neighborhoods,” he said.
There was a small group of residents on evacuation orders who refused to leave the city in what the fire brigade called “worrying” even though it was “nothing to the extent that we saw the other fires regionally”.
A firefighter was slightly injured last night but will recover.
Brolund said when the fire first broke out in the valley between Mount Drought and Mount Law, it ran up the hill and quickly burned to rank 4/5, which resulted in calls for help from across the region. Fire activity in BC is rated on a six-point scale, with six being the highest.
Cindy White
UPDATE 11:00 am
Wildfire officials and the city of West Kelowna are holding an important intelligence update Monday morning at 11:30 a.m. to educate citizens on the progress of the Mount Law wildfire and White Rock Lake wildfire, both of which continue to burn out of control and are threatening structures and property.
West Kelowna Fire Department chief Jason Brolund told Castanet the fire showed very aggressive and active behavior early Monday, and officials are asking people to stay away from the fire areas so firefighters and air support can do their jobs.
Air tankers and helicopters hit the fire hard from the sky.
The virtual press conference hosted by Central Okanagan Emergency Operations will not be broadcast live, but Castanet will report immediately.
Photo: Okanagan Universe
UPDATE: 9:05 am
It appears that some buildings may have burned overnight in the wildfire at Mount Law in West Kelowna.
Central Okanagan Emergency Operations said this morning that “early reports indicate limited structural damage” – but that doesn’t rule out damage.
Details are yet to come, and so far the bigger picture is unclear.
Further information will be made available to owners and the media as soon as it becomes available, the EOC announced shortly before 9 a.m.
“Cooler temperatures are forecast for today and tomorrow, but the fires remain out of control and are expected to be active today. The crews of Central Okanagan and BC Wildfire will continue their ground and air suppression efforts today. People are asked to away from areas near the fire to ensure access and safety for first responders. Boaters should avoid areas of the lake used by air support. “
Residents in evacuation warning areas are advised to leave their homes immediately. You should be prepared to be away from home for long periods of time.
In the meantime, the Emergency Services Reception Center at Mount Boucherie Secondary School has been closed to streamline operations. Evacuees can pre-register online with the ESS at ess.gov.bc.ca.
Residents in need of assistance, including housing, should contact the reception center at 1480 Sutherland Ave. in Kelowna, which is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today
Visitors from outside the Central Okanagan should check DriveBC.ca to make sure the highways are open before heading home.
If you want to check whether friends or family have been evacuated, you can use the “Find address or location” search function on the website at cordemergency.ca/map.
UPDATE: 8:41 am
The Central Okanagan Regional Ward closed six regional parks on Monday morning because of the Mount Law forest fire.
Trepanier Creek Greenway Regional Park, Coldham Regional Park, Goats Peak Regional Park,
Glen Canyon Regional Park, Gellatly Heritage Regional Park, and Gellatly Nut Farm Regional Park are all closed starting Monday morning.
Bruce Smith, RDCO Area Communications Officer, said, “For everyone’s safety, please stay away from these parks.
Smith says these parks will remain closed until it is safe to re-admit visitors.
Smith says, “We never want to close our parks, but in this case it is more important to protect everyone and not strain our resources for first responders.” Smoking, open fires, campfires and all types of barbecues are due in the RDCO parks the current fire risk is not permitted.
Many other regional parks that remain open will not be affected by this closure.
UPDATE: 7:50 am
The BC Wildfire Service said this morning that the forest fire at Mount Law, above West Kelowna, is now estimated to be 800 acres.
More updates will follow later in the day.
ORIGINAL: 6:25 am
Firefighters from across the area continue to fight the forest fire at Mount Law in West Kelowna.
The aggressive fire lit Sunday evening and quickly grew to 200 acres, resulting in the evacuation of hundreds of homes in Glenrosa, Crystal Mountain, Peachland and the Central Okanagan Regional Unit.
It continues to burn out of control.
The crews stayed at the fire lines overnight.
The fire is believed to be man-made and is under investigation, the BC Wildfire Service said late Sunday.
Central Okanagan Emergency Operations described the situation at around 12:45 pm as “dynamic and evolving.”
Trees burned as the wildfire slowly descended the hill above Glenrosa.
The fire is widely visible throughout the central Okanagan.
The BC Wildfire Service responded with 11 ground crews and several heavy equipment on Sunday. West Kelowna and Vernon Fire Department personnel are also helping.
Four air tankers and four helicopters worked on the fire to the last light.
We will be informed of the situation as soon as more information is available this morning.
