Account Login/Registration

Access KelownaNow using your Facebook account, or by entering your information below.


Facebook


OR


Register

Privacy Policy

PHOTOS: Skaha Creek wildfire, Day 3

Sunday evening, some residents of the upscale Skaha Hills development at the southwest corner of Penticton were already self-evacuating.

<who>Photo Credit: NowMedia</who>

They'd watched as the Skaha Creek wildfire crested the ridge above the development during dinner hour and then begun its descent down the mountain. Though the blaze was still some distance away, they'd seen enough. For them, it was time to go.

<who>Photo Credit: NowMedia</who>

And now, it’s one more step to becoming official. The Penticton Indian Band council this afternoon authorized an evacuation alert for properties not only in Skaha Hills, but also the adjacent Riva Ridge manufactured home community, Holiday Hills RV Resort, and the PIB Lower Village south of Shingle Creek.

<who>Photo Credit: NowMedia</who>

Beyond the alert, which is different from a "notice" in that it's intended only to prepare residents for the potential of evacuation rather than mandate them to immediately do so, the City of Penticton has also now activated its Emergency Operations Centre.

<who>Photo Credit: NowMedia</who>

For more information on both developments, turn to our continually updated story here.

<who>Photo Credit: NowMedia</who>

On the mountain itself, Day 3 of the blaze, first spotted and identified Saturday afternoon, played out much differently than Day 2.

<who>Photo Credit: NowMedia</who>

Whereas Sunday morning the fire was barely visible from any vantage point in town and air tankers and their orange retardant didn’t even make an appearance 'til the afternoon, Monday was fierce from the get-go.

<who>Photo Credit: NowMedia</who>

The flames were widespread at first light and a bevy of tankers were on the job early, trying their best to cut off any path down the mountain.

<who>Photo Credit: NowMedia</who>

As afternoon came on, the tankers gave way to skimmers and helicopters. Needless to say, the skies surrounding the mountain were once again crazy busy.

<who>Photo Credit: NowMedia</who>

On the ground, 13 more personnel arrived today to add to the 40 already on site. An Incident Management Team has now been set up, and eight pieces of heavy equipment are on the job.

<who>Photo Credit: NowMedia</who>

Still classified as "out of control," the Skaha Lake wildfire is currently estimated to be 212 hectares. That's more than double its Sunday night size. And it is now officially one of 16 "Wildfires of Note" within the province.



If you get value from KelownaNow and believe local independent media is important to our community we ask that you please consider subscribing to our daily newsletter.

If you appreciate what we do, we ask that you consider supporting our local independent news platform.


Send your comments, news tips, typos, letter to the editor, photos and videos to news@kelownanow.com.



Weather
webcam icon

weather-icon
Fri
12℃

weather-icon
Sat
12℃

weather-icon
Sun
15℃

weather-icon
Mon
17℃

weather-icon
Tue
16℃

weather-icon
Wed
12℃

current feed webcam icon

Recent Livestream




Top Stories

Follow Us

Follow us on Instagram Follow us on Twitter Like us on Facebook Follow us on Linkedin Follow us on Youtube Listen on Soundcloud Follow Our TikTok Feed Follow Our RSS Follow Our pinterest Feed
Follow Our Newsletter
Privacy Policy