UPDATED: Continuing evacuations as wildfire grows near West Kelowna

UPDATE Friday 8:50 a.m.

Properties north of Nahun to, but not including, La Casa are now under Evacuation Order due the McDougall Creek Wildfire.

Residents on Evacuation Order must leave the area immediately. It’s critical that all residents evacuate for their safety and the safety of first responders in the area.

UPDATE Friday

Property losses

Firefighters continue to work diligently overnight on interface areas of the McDougall Creek to protect property and infrastructure in West Kelowna. The fire remains very active and unpredictable.

Overnight, officials have confirmed some structural loss. A full assessment of the areas affected will be undertaken in the morning.

A detailed update will be provided at 10am on Friday, August 18, 2023 by Emergency Officials. Log-in information for the livestreamed event will be posted on cordemergency.ca.

Currently 2,462 properties are under Evacuation Order and 4,801 properties are under evacuation alert for the McDougall Creek Wildfire.

UPDATE Thursday 9:15 p.m.

The McDougall Creek Wildfire, around 10 kilometres northwest of West Kelowna, continued to grow aggressively late Thursday fanned by strong, gusting winds.

It was measured at an estimated 1,100 hectares late Thursday afternoon, having been measured at 300 hectares earlier in the day.

Latest Evacuation Orders

All remaining properties in the Rose Valley neighbourhood north of Stevens Road, and West Kelowna Estates, are now under Evacuation Order due the McDougall Creek Wildfire.

Residents on Evacuation Order must leave the area immediately. It’s critical that all residents evacuate for their safety and the safety of first responders in the area.

To ensure an orderly evacuation in these areas, please follow directions from emergency personnel. Public safety and the protection of critical infrastructure are the primary concerns at this time.

Evacuees should register online at https://ess.gov.bc.ca or attend the Information Centre at Royal LePage Place, 2760 Cameron Road in West Kelowna.

UPDATED Thursday 9:05 p.m.

Further Evacuation Orders

All properties along Westside Road from Traders Cove to Nahun are now under evacuation order due the McDougall Creek Wildfire. The Evacuation Alert zone has expanded north to Killiney Beach.

Recently added properties under Evacuation Order all properties accessed off Westside Rd North of Traders Cove to Nahun, including:

• Bancroft Rd
• Banff Rd
• Blair Rd
• Bolton Rd
• Browse Rd
• Deighton Rd
• Denison Rd
• Jenny Creek Rd
• Shelter Cove
• Westside Pl
• All properties within Okanagan Lake Resort

Residents on Evacuation Order must leave the area immediately and evacuate northward on Westside Road towards Vernon.

Due to unpredictable fire behaviour, it is critical that all residents evacuate for their safety and the safety of first responders in the area.

Evacuees should register online at https://ess.gov.bc.ca or attend the Information Centre at Kal Tire Place, 3445 43rd Avenue in Vernon.

UPDATED Thursday 7 p.m.

Additional Evacuation Orders

All properties in Sailview Bay, Raymer Bay, Bear Creek Provincial Park, and Traders Cove are now under Evacuation Order due the McDougall Creek Wildfire.

Recently added properties under Evacuation Order include:

All properties along Westside Rd from Bear Creek Forest Service Road South to Westbank First Nation IR#10, including:

• 1 - 386 Westside Rd
• Traders Cove Rd
• Siemens Rd
• Edith Crt
• Heldon Crt
• Sailview Bay

Also, Thursday late afternoon, 143 properties in the Bartley Road area and 620 properties in the Rose Valley area of West Kelowna were put under Evacuation Order.

Recently added properties under Evacuation Order include all properties on Bartley Road north of Shannon Lake Road including:

• Lenz Road
• 1620 Stevens Road
• 1830 Shannon Lake Road

All of the Rose Valley subdivision was also recently added to the Evacuation Order area including:

• Roseridge Crt
• Rosewood Dr
• Rosealee Lane
• Jok Mar Crt
• Rosewood Crt
• Rosemary Crt
• Roseabby Dr
• Rosefield Dr
• Rosealee Crt
• Rose Meadow Dr
• Rose Hill Pl
• Rose Anne Crt
• Rose Tree Rd

Areas north of Westlake Rd and Parkinson Rd were also recently added to the Evacuation Order area including:

• Pettman Rd
• Bowes Rd
• Blackwood Dr
• Klein Rd
• Guest Rd
• Valois Crt
• McPhail Crt

Residents on Evacuation Order must leave the area immediately. To ensure an orderly evacuation of these areas, please follow directions from emergency personnel. Public safety and the protection of critical infrastructure are the primary concerns.

UPDATED Thursday 1:26 p.m.

The evacuation alert area for the McDougall Creek Wildfire Central has expanded to include an additional 924 properties north of Traders Cove up to and including Caesars Landing.

The McDougall Creek Wildfire is currently estimated at 300 hectares and is classified as out of control.

An Evacuation Order remains in place for 68 properties. Evacuees should register online at https://ess.gov.bc.ca/ or attend the Information Centre at Royal LePage Place, 2760 Cameron Road in West Kelowna. If you are evacuating, please connect with friends and family for options for temporary accommodations as tourism partners are at capacity.

A public information line is available at 250-469-8490 (local) or 1-877-569-8490 (toll-free).

A map of properties under Alert and Order can be found at cordemergency.ca or search by street address on the interactive map to determine if you are affected.

Evacuation Orders and State of Emergency

UPDATED Thursday 1:37 p.m.

A local state of emergency has been issued for the City of West Kelowna, a portion of Westbank First Nation and the Central Okanagan West Electoral Area due to advancing wildfire protection needs.

The McDougall Creek Wildfire is currently estimated at 300 hectares and is classified as out of control.

An Evacuation Order is in place for 68 properties formerly on alert for the McDougall Creek Wildfire.

Residents on Evacuation Order must leave the area immediately. To ensure an orderly evacuation of residents in these areas, please follow directions from emergency personnel. Public safety and the protection of critical infrastructure are the primary concerns at this time.

Properties affected by the evacuation order include:

All properties accessed off of Bear Creek Road to the north of Parkinson Road (not including Parkinson Road).

• Dougmac Road
• Petterson Road
• Rose Valley Road
• 1045 Bear Creek Road
• 2740 Smith Creek Road
• 2850 Dixie Road
• 1075 Bear Creek Road
• 495 Bear Creek Road
• 525 Bear Creek Road
• 551 Bear Creek Road
• 573 Bear Creek Road
• 611 Bear Creek Road
• 674 Bear Creek Road
• 724 Bear Creek Road
• 779 Bear Creek Road
• 875 Bear Creek Road
• 944 Bear Creek Road

Evacuation Alerts have also been expanded to include areas north of Traders Cove up to and including Caesars Landing. Residents must be ready to leave their home at a moment’s notice and be prepared to be away from their home for an extended period of time. Get ready and make arrangements for pets and livestock and pack essential items such as medicines and important documents.

More than 5,700 properties have been placed on Evacuation Alert in the following communities:

• Bartley Road
• Bear Creek Provincial Park
• Caesars Landing
• Pine Point
• Raymer Bay
• Rose Valley
• Sailview Bay
• Shannon Woods
• Smith Creek
• Tallus Ridge
• Traders Cove
• West Kelowna Estates
• West Kelowna Industrial and Business Park
• Wilsons Landing
• Portions of Westbank First Nation IR#9
• Portions of Westbank First Nation IR#10
• Portions of the Central Okanagan West Electoral Area south of Bear Creek Main Forest Service Road, including the Bear Creek Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Site.

A fire burning about 10 kilometres northwest of West Kelowna has prompted officials to issue Evacuation Alerts for up to 4,800 properties.

The out of control McDougall Creek Wildfire is around 64 hectares in size.

Weather alerts issued by Environment Canada are advising of gusty winds Thursday and overnight Friday which are likely to worsen wildfire conditions and lead to possible new fire starts.

Updates can be found here.

The Evacuation Alerts, issued late Wednesday, are in effect for portions of West Kelowna, Westbank First Nation and a portion of the Central Okanagan West Electoral Area.

Residents in the area are advised to be ready to leave their home at a moment’s notice.

They should be prepared to be away from their home for an extended period of time, make arrangements for pets and pack essential items such as medicines and important documents.

Here are the affected areas: You can check an interactive map here.

Portions of the Central Okanagan West Electoral Area south of Bear Creek Main Forest Service Road, including the Bear Creek Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Site

Emergency response personnel request that the general public:

Pre-register here ahead of time for Emergency Support Services should an Evacuation Order be declared.

Avoid the Evacuation Alert areas so emergency responders can effectively perform their duties.