UPDATE: New size estimate for Lake Country fire as wind starts to ease

| August 18, 2023 in Wildfire

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**Coverage of the Lake Country wildfire will continue at this link on Saturday.**

(UPDATE: Aug. 18 @ 8 pm) - The wildfire in Lake Country has grown to 174 hectares as of 6 pm.

There have been no additional evacuation notices issued for the area since the first batches of orders and alerts were issued this morning and early in the afternoon.

You can click this link to see the map of Lake Country evacuations or check out the detailed lists in the updates below from earlier today.

After another gusty afternoon, the wind has started to east in the region and measurements from the Kelowna Airport, not far from this wildfire, show a significant decrease in wind speeds in recent hours.

Early this afternoon, the wind was blowing around 40 km/h and gusting above 50 km/h. In the last three hours, the consistent wind speed has decreased to around 20 km/h with gusts around 30 km/h.

While the West Kelowna fire may be an unstoppable force at this time, calmer conditions tonight could help crews make some headway on the fire in Lake Country.

(UPDATE: Aug. 18 @ 2:00 pm) - New evacuation orders for Lake Country have been issued.

Despite significant efforts, the wildfires remain out of control in West Kelowna, Kelowna and Lake Country, and officials say we’re in the thick of it and will be fighting for days, if not weeks. 

In addition to the recent evacuation order for properties in the Nighthawk Tyndale area...new orders for Lake Country have been issued. Residents on Finch Road have been ordered to leave. The latest mapping has Lake Country fire at 80 hectares. 

Properties affected by the evacuation order include Tyndall Rd N of Okanagan Centre Rd to Camp Rd, and all properties on Okanagan Centre Rd W between Lakestone Dr and 10th St, including:

Properties affected by the evacuation alert include North of City of Kelowna and Lake Country District boundary between Highway 97 and Lake Okanagan to Okanagan Centre Road East / Oceola Road.

Anyone who has been issued an evacuation order is encouraged to stay with friends and family if possible, as only group lodging is available and commercial locations are running low. 

A reception centre is set up at Beasley Community Centre, at 3450 Woodsdale Rd in Lake Country, to help affected residents.

Residents can use this detailed map to learn if their property is affected. 

Officials at this morning's media conference hosted by the Central Okanagan Emergency Operation Centre have confirmed the spot fires that started in Kelowna last night and in Lake Country today were likely caused by embers from the McDougall Creek wildfire, but no structural loss has been confirmed in Kelowna. 

KelownaNow has received reports of possible structural loss in Lake Country.

Winds are currently driving the fires north, with 'very dangerous' conditions throughout Central Okanagan. 

All resources have been deployed to where they have the biggest impact, and boats with crew members remain on the water to assist with the McKinley and Clifton wildfires.

There are approximately 25 to 30 people working 24 hours a day to handle the emergency operations including logistics, mapping, advance planning, weather monitoring and informing the public. 

All Interior Health services remain fully operational. 

There is no confirmed loss of life.

(UPDATE: Aug. 18 @ 9:35 am) - The northernmost of three wildfires that sparked on the Kelowna side of the lake over the past 12 hours is quickly becoming a huge concern.

There has not been much word from officials, but several reader reports have come into KelownaNow and say that evacuations have begun.
 

The first is located near Tyndall Road and Jack Seaton Park and one man said that people began efforts to get their horses evacuated earlier around 8:30 am.

Since then, larger evacuations of people and property have began. Central Okanagan Emergency Operations (CORD) has yet to post an official evacuation notice online.

Multiple readers reached out to KelownaNow to report the sounds of explosions in the area. There are at least four helicopters currently actioning the blaze.

KelownaNow will continue to update this story with information on fires in Kelowna and Lake Country as they develop throughout the day.

(Original story: Aug. 18 @ 8:30 am) - Central Okanagan Emergency Operations (CORD) has issued more evacuation orders for the Kelowna side of Okanagan Lake.

“Properties in the Shayler area have been placed under evacuation order as crews respond to fires in the Clifton/McKinley areas of Kelowna,” a CORD release explains. “These properties have been tactically evacuated by emergency responders.”

It affects properties surrounding Hidden Lake and Still Pond, which includes:

All other evacuation orders and alerts for Kelowna remain in place and are unchanged. CORD has not indicated how many Kelowna properties are affected at this time.

There has been no official word on whether structures were damaged or destroyed on the Kelowna side of the lake.

The new order comes shortly after the BC Wildfire Service added a third Kelowna fire to its map.

According to that map, it’s located between the two fires discovered late Thursday night, in McKinley Mountain Park.

All evacuees are being told to register online and try to find temporary lodging with family and friends.

Those who are unable to find a place to stay can go to Prospera Place in downtown Kelowna. Small pets in a cage or on leash are permitted, CORD says.

ESS reception centres in West Kelowna, Kelowna and Vernon will reopen for the day at 9 am.

KelownaNow will update this story throughout the day as the situation develops. 

Click this link to see our coverage of the Kelowna wildfire situation on Thursday and into the early-morning hours of Friday.

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