Philpott Road Fire News Release #3

The Emergency Support Services reception centre is now open to assist the estimated 1,100 people on Evacuation Order for the Philpott Road wildfire.  The centre is located at Willow Park Church, 439 Highway 33 West in Kelowna.  Volunteers are on hand to provide people with accommodation and other needs.  As well, volunteers with the ALERT organization are helping those residents with their domestic animals.

BC Wildfire estimates the Philpott Road wildfire is 300-hectares in size.  It was reported shortly after 1:30 this afternoon in the area of Highway 33 and Philpott Road in the mostly rural area of Joe Rich in the Central Okanagan East Electoral Area of the Regional District of Central Okanagan. 

The Evacuation Order affects 474 properties from the western boundary of the City of Kelowna to Big White Road and Mission and Joe Rich creeks along the south.  A detailed map showing the affected properties within the Evacuation Order area is available at www.cordemergency.ca.

Joe Rich, Kelowna, Ellison and Lake Country structural firefighters are fighting the wildfire along with crews from the BC Wildfire Service.

Highway 33 is closed from the Gallaghers Road intersection on the City of Kelowna to Big White Road.  For the latest status please check www.drivebc.ca.

Monitor cordemergency.ca, facebook.com/CORDEmergency or twitter.com/CO_Emerg for the latest information.