(UPDATE: July 29 @ 11:55 a.m.) - The Yates Road fire is under control and fire officials have deemed the area safe for the public. Effective at 11:30 a.m., the Evacuation Alert has been rescinded for all 933 properties in the Wilden area of Kelowna.
Residents looking for information regarding aerial fire retardant on their properties can contact the BC Wildfire Service at 250-554-5532.
While the Evacuation Alerts have been rescinded, conditions in the Central Okanagan continue to be hot and dry. Residents and visitors should be vigilant and aware that the fire hazard remains high to extreme.
A regional campfire ban is in place effective today at noon. All campfires are prohibited throughout the Regional District of Central Okanagan including: the City of West Kelowna, District of Lake Country, District of Peachland, Westbank First Nation and the Central Okanagan East and West Electoral Areas. Campfires are not permitted at any time within the City of Kelowna.
(UPDATE: July 28 @ 11:55 a.m.) - Fire crew officials with the Kelowna Fire Department have the Yates Road fire in Kelowna under control at this time. It is in mop-up stage, which means fire crews are going through the area thoroughly looking for hotspots to ensure they are all extinguished with water. Conditions could still change, depending on weather such as wind.
As a precautionary measure, the evacuation alert for the 933 properties in the Wilden area (access via Rio Drive, Upper Canyon Drive and Union Road) are still in effect until further notice.
Officials are reminding residents that conditions in the region remain hot and dry and there is a high to extreme fire hazard region-wide.
(UPDATE: July 28 @ 10:30 a.m.) - The Yates Road wildfire has not seen any change overnight.
The fire, which has been deemed to be human caused, was being held yesterday at four hectares.
Morning update: No changes on #YatesRoadFire overnight. Crews have made good progress & are now moving into the mop-up stage. Evacuation Alerts for residents in the Wilden area remain in place at this time while crews assess the area. #Kelowna
— Central Ok Emergency (@CO_Emerg) July 28, 2018
Evacuation alerts will remain in place at this time until firefighter have finished assessing the area.
There are 19 firefighters from the Kelowna Fire Department at the scene today. They report good progress on what remains of the fire today, and they are moving on to mop up stages.
Two youths have admitted to playing with a lighter at the base of the mountain.
The Yates Road #BCwildfire in #Kelowna is in good standing after airtankers dropped retardant to box in the fire. Helicopters and crews remain on scene to support local fire department personnel. pic.twitter.com/1bhQz3F3dG
— BC Wildfire Service (@BCGovFireInfo) July 27, 2018
(UPDATE: July 27 @ 7:05 p.m.) - The investigation into the Yates Road fire that has determined that the ignition was human-caused, confirmed Keith Meldrum, Kelowna Fire Department (KFD) Deputy Chief.
Kelowna Fire Dispatch received a report of a bushfire behind 450 Yates Road at approximately 12:49 p.m.
Initial crews arrived on scene to a rank 3-4 fire with candling trees located within a difficult to access area. BC Forestry provided air support to ground crews.
Five KFD Engines, three bush trucks, a UTV and a water tender were enlisted along with 30 structural fire fighters, the BC Forest Service Air Tanker, a Spotter Aircraft and three helicopters.
The fire was held at four hectares and did not affect nearby residences.
Two youth males have admitted to playing with a lighter at the base of the mountain.
"It was two youths that were playing with a lighter, started some grass on fire, they stomped on it, thought they had put it out and then had left the area," explained Meldrum noting that the extremely hot and dry conditions are unhelpful in these situations.
KelownaNow will continue to update the status of the fire until it has been extinguished.
(UPDATE: 4 p.m.) - CORD has now classified the Yates Road fire as held.
Tim Light, platoon chief with the Kelowna Fire Department, said the fire got to three to four hectares before crews were able to surround it with fire retardant.
Despite this positive news, CORD says the evacuation alert for 933 properties will remain in place through the night as a precautionary measure.
Those properties are located on the following roads:
And portions of the following roads:
For a full update from Light, read the 3:45 p.m. update below.
(UPDATE: 3:45 p.m.) - KelownaNow had a chance to talk to platoon chief Tim Light regarding this afternoon's fire off Yates Road.
"We have the fire completely surrounded with retardant thanks to the forestry air service," "Right now we have forestry crews up there digging a guard around the fire.
Light says the fire ended up being three to four hectares and it's believed to be human caused, but that will be confirmed within a few hours.
While 933 houses remain on evacuation alert, but there's not current threat to any homes in the area and the alert is precautionary.
The Kelowna Fire Department had around 30 firefighters on scene, with 10 extra personnel from the BC Wildfire Service.
There were also four air tankers and four helicopters on scene.
(UPDATE: 3:30 p.m.) - A group of firefighters who just came down from battling the blaze reported steep and "shaley" conditions where the fire broke out.
That round of emergency workers are now getting blood pressure checks and some time to cool off in an air conditioned area.
One of them was quoted as saying the fight was "two steps forward, one step back."
Meanwhile, an incident commander on the scene said it was lucky the wind conditions were good or else it could have been a lot worse.
At the moment, 933 properties remain on evacuation alert, which you can view a map of and search for a specific address by clicking this link.
"Residents in the area are advised to be ready to leave their home at a moment’s notice," reads the latest update from CORD.
"They should be prepared to be away from their home for an extended period of time, make arrangements for pets and pack essential items such as medicines and important documents."
(UPDATE: 3:05 p.m.) - The Kelowna Fire Department and BC Wildfire Service continue to battle a hillside fire in Glenmore.
The fire began just off Yates Road, near Watson Elementary School, around 1 p.m. today.
Air tankers have dropped at least six lines of retardant on the blaze, which appears to have diminished quite a bit in the past hour or so.
However, 10 BC Wildfire personnel, four air tankers, four helicopters and multiple Kelowna Fire Department crews remain on site.
An evacuation alert also remains in place for a number of properties in the surrounding area, which you can see in detail on the CORD website.
We've wrapped up our Facebook Live video, but you can still view the replay of it below.
NowMedia will continue to update this story as more information becomes available.
(UPDATE: 2:40 p.m.) - Air crews continue to battle the hillside fire in Glenmore.
Five lines of retardant have been dropped on the blaze, most recently on the south end of the fire as it appears to be moving southwest.
An evacuation alert has been issued for the surrounding area, which you can see in detail on the CORD website.
You can also stay up to date by watching our Facebook Live video.
(UPDATE: 2:10 p.m.) - CORD has issued an evacuation alert for properties in vicinity of the fire that broke out near Yates Road this afternoon.
Some properties in the Wilden and Glenmore area, along with properties northeast of Knox Mountain and surrounding Skyline Drive are all affected by the alert.
You can view a detailed map of the alert and check if your address is affected by clicking this link.
(UPDATE: 1:50 p.m.) - Air tankers from the BC Wildfire Service is now assisting with the fire with another two on the way.
There are also four helicopters assisting with the fire.
Fire crews on the ground are still attacking the blaze, but mostly letting air crews make the first attack.
In addition to multiple crews from the Kelowna Fire Department, there are 10 BC Wildfire Service personnel on scene.
The fire is burning near homes, but also travelling southwest away from the residential area, meaning BC Wildfire can't confirm that it's threatening any homes at this point.
KelownaNow will continue to update this story as more information is made available.
You can also stay up to date by watching our Facebook Live video.
(Original story: 1:15 p.m.) - A fire has broken out on the hillside in Glenmore.
The fire is burning off of Watson Road, near Watson Elementary School.
A KelownaNow reporter on scene reports multiple fire crews on scene, along with at least one helicopter.
We've gone live from the scene, which you can watch by clicking this link.
KelownaNow will continue to update this story as more information becomes available.
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