B.C. restricts travel in southern Interior as wildfires force 30,000 out of homes

UPDATE Aug. 20, 2023:Wildfire fight continues in B.C., with thousands out of their homes and buildings burned to the ground

If the power or data on your device is low, you can get wildfire updates onCBC Lite, our low-bandwidth, text-only website.

The latest on the wildfires:

• Officials confirmedhomes have been destroyedand 3,000 properties are on evacuation order in the Shuswap region, as two major fires combined near Adams Lake.
• Highway 1 remains closed with thousands of people out of their homes in the Fraser Canyon and Thompson-Nicola regions as theKookipi Creek wildfire continues to grow.
• A provincewidestate of emergencyhas been declared in British Columbia. Here's what it means.
• Atravel orderhas restricted non-essential travel to the southern Interior.
• 30,000 people are on evacuation order across B.C.and 36,000 more are under evacuation alert, according to the province.
• Many people want to help evacuees.Learn more about how to offer your support.
• Learn abouthow to find the full list of wildfires, highway closures and evacuation orders and alerts.
• Tunein for ongoing coverage of the wildfire situation onCBC Radio One, 88.9 FM in Kelowna, 96.9 FM in Salmon Arm, orby using theCBC Listen app.You can also watch free livestreamson CBC News Networkand CBC Gem.

B.C.'s fight against wildfires continuedSaturday, after blazes flared up on Friday night and destroyed properties inthe Central Okanagan region.

The province is under a state of emergency due to hundreds of active wildfires, with the emergency management ministry saying30,000 people have been told to leave their homes, and a further 36,000 have been told to get ready to leave at a moment's notice.

At a Saturday news conference, B.C. Premier David Eby initially stated that 35,000 people were on evacuation order, but a spokesperson for B.C.'sMinistry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness saysthe situation is currently very dynamic.

Atthe news conference, Eby said he was issuing an order that restricts travel to B.C.'s southern Interiorfor the purpose of staying in temporary accommodationsuch as a hotel, motel or campground.

The order applies to temporary accommodation inKelowna, West Kelowna, Kamloops, Oliver, Osoyoos, Pentiction and Vernon and is in effect until the end of day on Sept.4.

"We shouldn't need an order," Eby said. "Please just stay out of these areas if you don't have to be there."

Eby also says Solicitor General Mike Farnworth has authorized emergency provisions to allow municipal RCMP resources to be deployed to evacuated areas and secure empty properties.

Evacuees replace tourists in hotels

Ingrid Jarrett, a longtime Kelowna residentand the CEO of the B.C. Hotel Association (BCHA), said the organization has been working with the province to provide emergency shelter for evacuees and emergency responders. The province, she said, pays hotels a government rate for their rooms.

But to ensure hotels have enough space for those who need it, operators in areas affected by wildfires are helpingguestseither get home or rebook their vacations to another part of the province.

"We have travellers from all over the world that are in the Okanagan," she said.

"So many people actually are here and we need to help them find a way home."

In Kelownathat has proved trickyasthe region's only international airport closed to commercial travel on Friday. To help address the issue, Air Canada has scheduled extra flights out of the nearby Penticton Regional Airport, Jarrett said.

'Army' of firefighters in Kelowna

The McDougall Creek wildfireburning in West Kelownagrew more than a hundredfold from 64 hectares to 6,800 hectares (68 square kilometres) in just 24 hours. As of late Friday evening, it covered an area of 105 square kilometres, according to the B.C. Wildfire Service.

In a news conference Saturday afternoon, officials saida return to seasonal temperatures was aiding firefighters in the city, but they weren't out of the woods yet. An earlier update from BCWS had said crews had made good progress overnight.

WATCH | West Kelowna fire chief praises emergency crews for overnight work:

Wildfires will 'leave a long, lasting scar,' West Kelowna fire chief says

12 months ago

Duration 0:29

West Kelowna fire Chief Jason Brolund says wildfires will have a lasting impact on community members, but they're working together to create positive change.

"We are still in some critically dry conditions, and are still expecting difficult days ahead," said Jerrad Schroeder, deputy fire centre manager in the Kamloops Fire Centre.

On Saturday, the city of West Kelowna implemented a "do not consume" order for water in most of theRose Valley water service area. A boilwater notice remained in effect for the SunnysidePritchard area.

Jason Brolund, the chief of West Kelowna Fire and Rescue, praised an "army" of firefighting personnel, including those from municipal fire departments across the province,who worked overnight tohelp save hundreds of properties including a $75-million water treatment plant.

"It's become evident that this event will leave a long-lasting scar on our community," Brolund told the news conference. "But I have already seen how our community is coming together, and I'm looking forward to the continued progress."

More than2,400 properties are under an evacuation order, and more than 4,800 properties are under an evacuation alert due to the blaze.

While properties were confirmed destroyed in the blaze, the exact number will not be known until officials can assess the situation.

Kelowna has a population of approximately150,000 residents, while West Kelowna has about 36,000.

The airspace above the southern Interior city remains closed due to the blaze.

WATCH | Residents filmapproaching flames from West Kelowna fire:

Smoke and flames loom over West Kelowna, B.C. as evacuations underway

12 months ago

Duration 0:58

More than 1,000 properties have been ordered evacuated as wildfires rapidly spread toward West Kelowna, B.C.

Meanwhile, structural losses have been confirmed in the City of Kelowna by fire chief Travis Whiting, who said he can't confirm numbers until after homeowners have been informed.

RCMP Supt. Kara Triance told the news conference that police were receiving reports of personal drones flying in wildfire zones, whichis illegal under federal regulations.

"They are affecting our firefighting efforts,"Triance said."If a drone is in the area, you will ground a helicopter. We need that airspace."

Under the province's state of emergency, B.C. officials can issue emergency orders, including travel restrictions and the ability tofree up accommodations for evacuees, emergency personnel and health-care workers.

Homes destroyed in Shuswap region

In the Shuswap region, the Lower East Adams Lake fireand Bush Creek East fire merged, and the combined fire moved 20 kilometres over the span of a day,something BCWSoperations director Cliff Chapmansaidwas "a significant fire run for this province."

The blaze destroyed properties, many of which are recreational and vacation homes, in the community of Celistaon the shore of Shuswap Lake, according to the BCWS.

The BCWS could not confirm the number of homes or buildings burned down overnight and said it was still assessing the damage in Celista.

DriveBC said Highway 1 has been closed between Chase and Sorrento in both directions because of the fire.

Large fires burning near Lytton, Invermere

Further west, afire in the Lytton area has forced the evacuations of numerous properties, along with the closure of a stretch of Highway 1.

The Kookipi Creek wildfire south of the town coveredan area of 105 square kilometres as of Saturday afternoon, and has led to numerous evacuation orders and alerts from First Nations and regional districts.According to DriveBC, Highway 1 between Hope and Lytton is closed in both directions due to the blaze.

TheVillage of Lytton, which wasdecimated by a wildfire in 2021,is also under evacuation alert.

In southeast B.C., officials are urging calmas numerous fires burn around the community of Invermere, B.C., with evacuation alerts in place for the Panorama Mountain resort.

All evacuees are asked to register through aprovincial portal.A public information line is also available at 250-469-8490or 1-877-569-8490.

READ MORE ON WILDFIRES:

• Wildfire experts say forest management practices and climate change are major factors in B.C. suffering its worst wildfire season on record.
• The West Kelowna fire chief says the McDougallCreek wildfire amounted to "100 years' worth of firefighting in one night".
• Sarah McLachlan was set to play shows in Salmon Arm and West Kelowna over the next two days butboth concerts havebeen cancelled because of wildfires.
• Get the news you need without restrictions. Download ourfree CBC News App.

Anyone placed under an evacuation order should leave the area immediately.

Evacuation centres have been set up throughout the province to assist anyone evacuating from a community under threat from a wildfire.

To find the centre closest to you, visit theEmergencyInfoBCwebsite.

Evacuees are encouraged to register withEmergency Support Services online, whether or not they access services at an evacuation centre.

Do you have a story to share?

If you've been affected by the B.C. wildfires and want to share your story, emailcbcnewsvancouver@cbc.ca.