Operational update for McDougall Creek Wildfire
Central Okanagan, B.C. – Central Okanagan Emergency Operations anticipates that no evacuation orders or alerts will be rescinded today as active response and recovery work for the McDougall Creek Wildfire continue.
In the RDCO Electoral Area West, 283 properties remain on evacuation order. Within the City of West Kelowna 122 properties remain within evacuation order areas.
Areas that remain on Evacuation Order were hardest hit by the McDougall Creek Wildfire and are more remote, topographically challenging and/or close to active wildfire areas. No temporary accesses are being permitted today.
Recovery and restoration work throughout the weekend has included BC Hydro’s power pole replacement efforts, which have involved 125 workers. Approximately 27 kilometres of power lines, 426 poles and 66 pieces of other equipment needed to be replaced and more than 70 per cent of this work has been completed.
Other work being done to make the areas safe before evacuation orders can be lifted and property owners can return home include natural gas and water service restoration, danger tree assessments and removals, slope assessments and hazardous materials removals from public property and rights of way.
To support crews and security in the evacuated zones, RCMP have increased their enforcement activities over the weekend, including boat patrols along Okanagan Lake. Under the Emergency Act, the public must not access evacuation zones by land, water or air. Offenders can be arrested, charged and required to pay substantial fines.
Boaters are now permitted north of the William R. Bennett Bridge but should keep clear of the western shores of Okanagan Lake north of the bridge.
Evacuation Order and Alert areas can be confirmed at cordemergency.ca/map. As Evacuation Orders are downgraded, residents can prepare for the safe return home by accessing detailed information online at cordemergency.ca/resources. They can also access resources through the Resiliency Centre:
- Address: 403 – 3031 Louie Drive, Governor’s Landing, Westbank First Nation
- Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- Contact: by phone at 250-707-3454 or via email at resiliency.centre@rdco.com
Those Central Okanagan evacuees needing to access the Emergency Support Services Reception Centre at 523 - 3041 Louie Drive, Governor’s Landing, Westbank First Nation are reminded that it is closed Sunday, Sept. 10 and Monday, Sept. 11 and will re-open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday this week.
Area restrictions
The McDougall Creek wildfire Area Restriction Order has been extended until Sept. 15, 2023, or until the Order is rescinded. More information and map: blog.gov.bc.ca/bcwildfire/area-restriction-implemented-for-the-mcdougall-creek-wildfire-k52767/
Current active wildfire situation
The BC Wildfire Service reports that the McDougall Creek Wildfire remains out of control. It is being actioned on Sunday, Sept. 10 by an incident management team, 132 firefighters, including 20 new fire rangers from Ontario, 40 operational field staff, seven structure protection personnel, 36 pieces of heavy equipment, and being supported by BC Hydro technicians and RCMP.
The wildfire is now estimated at 13,970.4 hectares and the increased size is the result of planned ignition operations. No planned ignitions are planned for Sept. 10. Weather continues to be a factor in all attempts to bring the fire under control with unseasonably warm and continuing dry weather. Stronger winds are forecast today with humidity values down to 20 per cent or less and temperatures climbing to 28 degrees or more.
Bucketing operations will continue in support of ground crews. Crews are mopping up and patrolling on all sides of the fire. On the west side, crews are focusing on cleaning up the Powers Creek drainage and the Hidden Creek guard. On the northeast side, crews will be mopping up around Cinnebar and Terrace Road. Heavy equipment operations will begin near Hidden Creek today to establish a guard to assist ground crews in accessing the area.
Stay up to date
Visit the BC Wildfire Service website for McDougall Creek Wildfire incident information.
Residents are asked to stay up to date through the CORD emergency site and subscribe to receive e-updates.
For municipal and local government information such as garbage collection and transfer station hours, water restrictions, boat launch, park and road closures, visit:
