Lightning-caused wildfires in B.C.'s Okanagan prompt evacuations, traffic chaos

UPDATE:Growing B.C. wildfires trigger more evacuation alerts in Okanagan Valley

Evacuation orders and alerts have been issued in parts of British Columbia's Okanagan Valley after a cluster of wildfires broke out following a fierce lightning storm that swept across the southern Interior.

BC Wildfire Service spokespersonKevin Skrepnek said Thursday that a fire burning four kilometres south of Peachland on the west side of Okanagan Lake dubbed the Mount Eneasfire was one of the most serious.

On Wednesday it forced the evacuation of dozens of properties in the regional districts of Central Okanagan and Okanagan-Similkameen. Residents, campers and visitors were directed to reception centres in West Kelowna and Penticton.On Thursday, the district of Summerlandissued an evacuation order for a number of properties.

Grant Endres, an evacuee of the Mount Eneasfire, said the blaze was burning 15 to 18 metres above his house as it made its way down the mountain. He said RCMPshowed up to alerthis family of the evacuation.

"When they'restanding at your door, you don't really have time to do much, so I'm still in pyjamas," Endres said.

"[I'm] just nervous and anxious, you know, devastated a little bit if our house burns. You know, kind of crossing our fingers, hoping that it doesn't."

Okanagan Lake Provincial Park remains under an evacuation order. It was one of several camping areasand nine properties evacuated late Wednesday as the Regional District ofOkanagan-Similkameen declared a state of local emergency.

The fire also temporarily closed Highway 97on Wednesday afternoon. It reopened, with major delays,before being closed again around 6 p.m. PT Thursday. It re-opened to single-lane traffic at 8 p.m.

The MountEneasfire is only one of dozens in the region sparked on Tuesdaywhen a lightning storm rolled across the Interiorduring a stretch of hot dry weather.

"We've got a cluster of fires that is of concern right now in the southOkanagancorridor from Kelowna south,"Skrepnek said.

• Get updates on all evacuation orders and alerts
• Get updates on highway closures from DriveBC
• Get updates on wildfires across B.C.

Directly across the lake, the Good Creek wildfire inOkanaganMountain Park south ofKelownaalso triggered an evacuation alert on Wednesday, meaning some residents should be ready to leave on amoment's notice.

Farther south nearSummerland, the Mount Conklefire, which now covers 80 hectares, prompted the Penticton Indian Band to declare a local state of emergency and issuean evacuation alert for some residents.

Linda Roth, who lives in a sixth floor apartment inPenticton, spent the night watching the fires along the lake.

"Last night was horrible. You could just see dark, dark clouds and orange. It was growing all night," she said.

"It all started with that wicked storm on Tuesday night. It was blowing pots off my balcony."

Firefighters recalled

Skrepnek said the Kamloops Fire Centre, which oversees the region, is currently the busiest of the provincial fire centres.

"We are moving resources in from elsewhere in the province, fromquieter areas where we can free up resources,"hesaid, adding thatadditional helicopters and fixed-wing, water-skimming air tankerswere also en route.

Firefighters loaned this month to Ontario and Quebec will also be brought home sooner than expected, he said.

"It's not going to be an immediate recall, but definitely the plan is to bring them back earlier than planned and then cycle them in so they can start to relieve some of the crews we've got deployed in B.C. now."

While temperatures are cooling as a low pressure system moves across the province today, there is also more lightning and wind in the forecast for parts of the southern Interior before temperatures warm up over the weekend.

The fire danger ratingfor much of the Southern and Central Interior remainsmoderate or high, with pockets of extreme fire danger across the southern half of the province.

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