It’s been a scary time for residents and visitors in the Okanagan with the many wildfires currently burning in the region.
One traveller captured this video of the Mount Eneas wildfire encroaching near Highway 97, which has been closed a few times this week as crews battle the blaze.
Driving through the #mounteneasfire last night was pretty scary, thankful to all of the emergency personnel who escorted us safely through the fire zone #peachland #BCWildfire @globalnews pic.twitter.com/0e1bQbwewz
— Jenna Elyse (@_xoxo4791) July 19, 2018
The video shows the driver being escorted past the flames by emergency personnel in the evening. RCMP were escorting drivers due to “dynamic wildfire activity” in the area.
Driving through the Mount Eneas fire last night was pretty scary," wrote the driver. "Thankful to all of the emergency personnel who escorted us safely through the fire zone."
As of last night, the Mount Eneas wildfire was estimated at 1,374 hectares, meaning the fire had grown since the night before.
#BCWildfire #mounteneasfire #peachland #Okanagan pic.twitter.com/OJFz0zd8Rz
— Jenna Elyse (@_xoxo4791) July 19, 2018
"That spread did happen kind of in the northwest area of the fire, kind of growing over the other side of the hill," commented Brenna Ward, Information Officer for the Kamloops Fire Centre. "A lot of that had to do with the wind as well as the topography of the fire. The slope, I guess is what helped prompt that spread."
An new estimate on the size of the fire, as well as information on resources at the scene should be available this morning.
Highway 97 between Summerland and Peachland is now fully open to traffic, but make sure you monitor DriveBC for changes before you travel.
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