The wildfire in West Kelowna remains out of control on Sunday morning, Aug. 2.
Known as the Blue Grouse Creek wildfire, the 20-hectare blaze was last updated by BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) at 9:19 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 1.
In that update, BCWS stated the blaze was displaying Rank 1 fire behaviour, meaning it’s “a smouldering ground fire with no open flame, white smoke and slow rate of spread.”
On Sunday morning, an evacuation alert remains in place for Baird Road, Bancroft Road, Banff Road, Bear Lake Road from Westside Road to Bald Range Creek, 37 Blue Grouse Road, Blue Grouse Mountain Road, Bolton Road, Browse Road, Edith Court, Heldon Court, Siemens Road, Traders Cover Road, and from Bear Creek Provincial Park to 2171 Westside Road North.
“Residents in the area are advised to be ready to leave their homes at a moment’s notice,” stated Central Okanagan Emergency Management (CORD). “They should be prepared to be away from home for an extended period, make arrangements for their pets, and pack essential items such as medicines and important documents.”
Firefighters from BCWS and West Kelowna Fire Rescue have been battling the blaze.
With windy conditions and the fire burning in an area where fire burned in 2023, there was a “significant” safety concern due to the potential of dead standing trees falling over.
As of Sunday morning, 36 BCHydro customers along Bear Lake Main Road remain without power due to a tree across wires.
Black Press Media will update this wildfire throughout the day.