Wildfire near Kelowna only 1 km from homes, but cool weather holds back flames

A wildfirein B.C.'s Okanagan region inched closer to homes overnight after forcing more than 1,000 people to flee on Thursday, but officials say cooler weather made adifference in the firefight.

Flames were first reported along Highway 33, about 25 kilometres east of Kelowna, around 1:30 p.m. PT.

CentralOkanaganEmergency Operations (COEP) issued anevacuationorder for474 properties, affecting around1,100 people, just over an hour later.

As of Friday afternoon, the B.C. Wildfire Service said the 400-hectare fire was within a kilometre of homes. No structures weredamaged and the fire hadn't grown significantly.

COEP said cool weather and minimal wind overnight kept the fire from growing, adding that thick smoke visible in the area was due to the lack of a breeze.

Environment Canada said the low in Kelownawas 5.3C the coldest night since April.

Provincial fire information officer JustineHunsesaid more resources were brought in Friday morning as backup.

The wildfire service said the cause of the fire is under investigation. So far, about four square kilometres north of the community of Joe Rich have been scorched.

Jogger outruns flames

Cynthia Rowwas on a trail run in the hills above Highway 33 when flames shotup trees around her.

"I noticed a helicopter overhead, not far away ... I thought, 'OK, they're just checking for fires but I had a feeling in my gut," Rowcontinued. "I looked back and I could see this plume of smoke."

She phoned 911 and she and the dispatcher agreed that Row should try and godown the hill, given her knowledge of the area.

"I just started running down as fast as I could ... within a few hundred feet, I ran into a wall of fire coming up the trail right at me," Row said. "I ended up having to just bushwhack off the trail."

The Calgary woman, who came toKelownain June,eventually reachedthe safety of the highway. Row said she was in shock but otherwise unharmed.

"I've never been so scared in my life," she said.

Highway 33 remains closed through the area.An emergency support services reception centre has been established at Willow Park churchin Kelowna.

• Read the latest updates from Central OkanaganEmergency Operations
• Read the latest on evacuation alerts and orders in B.C.