There are nearly 20 wildfires currently burning over 0.01 hectares in the Kamloops Fire Centre, 14 of which are burning south of Vernon with the focal point of the wildfire being centred between Penticton and Kelowna.
Despite the heavy fire activity in the South Okanagan, business owners want to remind B.C. residents, tourists and travellers passing through that the cities are not slowing down.
Rocky Rocksborough-Smith, President of the Peachland Chamber of Commerce, says that despite the concern over cities in the South Okanagan, they are running just fine and businesses are still open for business.
"I think it would be fatuous to say [businesses] weren't affected, of course they were. There's been an element of the general population that says look we're not going to go Peachland - or we're not going to see the Okanagan," explained Rocksborough-Smith, but he says businesses are in full swing.
"There's no restricted hours, that I'm aware of, and no closing down. The only restrictions I guess have been the obvious delays on Highway 97 in the middle of last week when the lightning struck on Tuesday evening."
Rocksborough-Smith's business, a Bed and Breakfast he and his wife operate called Pineacre B&B, has been doing well during the summer season, only having minor difficulties during the Evacuation Orders and Alerts.
"I think the main thing that I think is important is for the general public, especially in Vancouver or in Calgary or in Alberta, is to realize that Peachland very much is open for business," he emphasized.
Steve Lornie, co-owner of Crush Pad Winery in Summerland, shared the same sentiment about the city south of Peachland on Highway 97.
"The general experience and comments we get from people is that they hear all this about fires and smoke and flood, etcetera, and then they come to the Okanagan and it's a wonderful place to be and not as bad as its been portrayed to be," said Lornie.
A vineyard owned by his business was recently affected by an encroaching fire that was handled by local fire departments and the BC Wildfire Service, but his winery has never faltered.
"Nothing that we've noticed that seems to be problematic, though I can't speak for every business in Summerland, but there seems to be lots of traffic on the road, lots of people down on the beach . . . even with a little bit of smoke in the air, the Okanagan is still a fantastic place to visit."
For more information on wildfires in the area, visit NowMedia's Firewatch page.
Thumbnail courtesy of Angie Derrickson
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