Evacuation alert issued for rural North Okanagan area due to nearby wildfire

Editor's note: Find that latest updates on the Sitkum Creek wildfire from Tuesday, July 23 at this link.

An evacuation alert has been issued for a number of recreation sites in the north Okanagan due to a nearby wildfire.

On Monday afternoon, the Regional District of North Okanagan (RDNO) issued the alert due to a wildfire on the east side of Sugar Lake.

That means anyone in the area must be ready to leave at a moment’s notice.

Wildfire K41109 was discovered on Thursday and as of 3:30 Sunday, it was estimated at 58 hectares.

The fire, which is burning near Sitkum Creek, is believed to be caused by lightning.

The alert includes:

• All lands east of Sugar Lake, from the southern end to the northern tip, and from the east shore of to a line north south-through Initiative Peak.

• This region includes all sites within Sugar Lake Resort at 1630 Sugar Lake Road.

“Additionally, The Okanagan Shuswap Forest District has implemented a road closure at the 2.5km mark on Kate Creek Fire Service Road,” the RDNO says in a news release.

The RDNO says this has been implemented to limit access to the evacuation alert area.