VIDEO: Penticton braces as firefight continues

The Christie Mountain wildfire has consumed one home and 1,400 hectares, but not the community spirit of the Mayor.

John Vassilaki's home is among 3,700 which are on evacuation alert as the fire burns on Penticton's doorstep.

The residents of another 319 homes are on evacuation order. "It gave me a warm feeling in my tummy," said Vassilaki, after his visit to the Emergency Operations Centre with volunteers who were there to help.

"I empathized greatly with the citizens affected," he said.

Regional District Officials and media outlets held-off on confirming details about the loss of the home on Christie Mountain Lane, to make sure the owners had been notified.

"It puts us in a difficult position," explained information officer Erick Thompson.

"You don't want to start sharing information about a person's property if that property owner doesn't know."

Some residents on evacuation alert were busy getting ready to leave with a few minute's notice. Brian Spence was loading up a vintage vehicle on a flatbed late this morning along with some treasured belongings.

"Just computers, pictures, whatever, cash, a toothbrush and some underwear," said Spence with a laugh.

But just down the road, David Kern is preparing to stay, no matter what. "I've got irrigation on, and I've got water hoses out, we've watered down all the property, the roof and everything," said Kern.

"They'll have to drag me out of here."

Thompson acknowledges that's his right. "You cannot force someone to leave their home unless they're a minor," he said.

"If someone chooses to do that, it's really unfortunate," he added, "because it can put emergency personnel in danger."

Helicopters were seen dousing the front line of the fire around the Heritage Hills area and further to the north around the boundary of the Skaha Bluffs Provincial Park.

Fire officials still describe the fire as out of control. "It's likely that it will not be under control or change from being out of control to that 'being held' status for quite some time," said information officer Nicole Bonnet from the BC Wildfire Service.

As many as 86 BC Wildfire firefighters were working on the ground with the support of municipal crews.

They're concentrating on control lines that are in place to protect homes and other things of value.

Temperatures are expected to drop into the 20's in the days ahead, which is good news, but there is also some lightening in the forecast.