Good progress made overnight on Bear Creek wildfire

Fire fighters were busy overnight on Monday as they monitored the almost 53-hectare wildfire burning in Bear Creek along Okanagan Lake.

Structural crews from West Kelowna, Peachland, Joe Rich and North Westside fire departments worked together to extinguish hotspots throughout the fire area. Thanks to favourable conditions, the wildfire is now 75 per cent contained and good progress has been made.

An evacuation order remains in place for 105 properties in Traders Cove and Bear Creek Provincial Park and an evacuation alert is in place for 51 properties along Bear Creek Road, north of the Parkinson Road intersection. Homes along Dougmac, Rose Valley and Petterson Roads are included in this alert as well as 14 homes in the Pine Point subdivision.

These residents are being told to prepare to leave at a moment’s notice. RCMP members are conducting security patrols throughout the evacuation area.

According to the Central Okanagan Emergency Operations, people may notice a lot of smoke coming from the active fire area on Tuesday as crews work to fully extinguish the blaze. Westside Road remains closed between Bear Creek Provincial Park and Traders Cove.

Campers evacuated from the provincial park will be temporarily allowed into the campsite to remove their possessions, vehicles and trailers for a limited time beginning at 8 a.m. on Tuesday. The Emergency Operations Centre will reopen at 9 a.m. in West Kelowna at Lions Hall located at 2466 Main St..

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