On Friday morning (Aug. 18), existing and new wildfires fueled by strong winds were moving in several directions across Central Okanagan.
According to Central Okanagan Regional District chair Loyal Wooldridge, the quick expansion of the McDougall Creek wildfire on Thursday night could be a preview of what is to come in the following days.
Wooldridge made these remarks at an update at the Central Okanagan Emergency Operation Centre, where he recognized that the West Kelowna fire destroyed an undetermined number of structures.
A Tweet posted by the official account of Massimo. You can also find out more information about West Kelowna Fire by reading the below tweet:-
State of emergency declared in West Kelowna, as raging wildfires out of control spreads in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada.
[read more: https://t.co/WOowncHUvD]pic.twitter.com/dToYuD0kcD
— Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) August 18, 2023
Crews are battling two fires in the Central Okanagan at the same time: the McDougall Creek fire and the Clifton/McKinley fire, which are both burning in Kelowna along the eastern bank of Lake Okanagan, north of Knox Mountain and going north.
Nicole Bonnett, a BC Wildfire Service spokesman, repeated Wooldridge’s prediction. “Fire activity will be quite aggressive,” she forecasted.
West Kelowna Fire Chief Jason Brolund claimed a “significant number” of buildings were destroyed while fighting the McDougall Creek fire, adding that workers were locked inside houses because some people refused to leave when urged to.
“We fought 100 years’ worth of fires — all in one night,” Brolund said, thanking the people for their support and the collaboration of firemen across the province. “We may have another scary night tonight.”
Brolund advised people to obey evacuation orders and to be calm. “Don’t panic,” he said. “We’ve got a great team here.”
Interior Health and other departments were also represented during Friday’s morning update.
Wildfires are also being fought north and south of the Central Okanagan. Fires in the Lake Country area, between Kelowna and Vernon, and in the South Okanagan settlements of Kaleden and Twin Lakes are among them.
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