Residents Evacuated Due to Highway 33 Wildfire

UPDATE (6:00pm): More homes have been evacuated because of the fast growing fire. The most up-to-date information can be found here.

UPDATE (4:50pm): The evacuation order has been expanded due to the Joe Rich grass fire. Residents along Prather Road are now under evacuation order. This is in addition to the first evacuation ordered for homes on Huckleberry Road.

UPDATE (4:30pm): A tactical evacuation is underway for homes along Huckleberry Road between the intersections of Goudie Road and Sun Valley Road as well as residences along Jack Pine Road in the Joe Rich area.

Residents on Goudie Road and Sun Valley Road are on Evacuation Alert and should be prepared to leave their homes on a moment’s notice with important items and personal materials. Residents tell our reporter on scene that police are escorting some people back to their homes to retrieve animals on their properties. Several residents tell KelownaNow they have horses still at their homes and are working to get them away from the area.

Residents fleeing the area after being evacuated (Photo Credit: KelownaNow.com)

Original Story:

At least one home has caught fire in the Joe Rich area as a brush fire rages on along Highway 33.

Photo Credit: KelownaNow.com

According to RCMP on the scene, Huckleberry Road is currently being evacuated and Sun Valley Road is currently on standby. Residents evacuated from homes just past the hairpin along Highway 33 say they have also been evacuated and one resident tells KelownaNow his home has caught fire as a result of the blaze. Fire officials have not confirmed if this is the case.

Witnesses believe the fire was started in the ditch and spread up the mountain towards the homes. Information is still coming in and we’ll have the latest updates as they become available.