‘We’re turning the corner’ says West Kelowna fire chief

The multiple agencies tackling the McDougall Creek Wildfire and its impacts near West Kelowna, Kelowna and Lake Country, continued to paint a better picture of the situation Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the provincial government has lifted nearly all the emergency travel restrictions announced Saturday.

While several homes have been lost, there is confirmation from specialist search teams there were no fatalities anywhere across the region and better weather continues to help firefighting efforts.

The detailed street by street risk assessment is complete and affected residents will be notified about the status of their properties.

Latest property loss figures

Less than 90 homes have been lost or partially destroyed in the West Kelowna area, according to the fire chief, but that does not include the hardest hit Traders Cove and Lake Okanagan Resort areas further north up the west side of the lake.

That number has yet to be reported although it’s expected to be less than 100.

“I’m beginning to feel like we’re turning a corner here,” West Kelowna Fire Chief Jason Brolund told a media briefing Tuesday, noting a major measure of that was the rescinding of some evacuation orders later in the day Monday.

“It was a good, small step,” he said, adding the numbers of properties that were saved in the operational zone was more than 3,000.

But serious risks remain.

Brolund said on Monday night two dozen spot fires needed to be extinguished.

“There was a very close call in one of the neighborhoods where a tree and a wood pile ignited and the home nearby was saved due to the actions of the firefighters,” he explained.

One big unknown since the fire ripped through the community last week has been the possibility of loss of life, but Brolund said the Canada Task Force 1 heavy urban search team, using dog units, had concluded their job earlier than expected and report no loss of life.

“I’ve worked closely with RCMP Inspector Kara Triance, and to the best of our knowledge at this time there has been no loss of life and there are no missing persons outstanding,” he said.

Meanwhile, Brad Litke with the BC Wildfire Service reported “excellent progress” on the three fires, including the main McDougall Creek Wildfire northwest of the community. It is still out of control and has increased slightly from an estimated 11,000 hectares to 12,000. Growth is being seen to the west and northwest of that blaze, which is centred around 10 kilometres from West Kelowna.

Precise measurements are still hindered by dense smoke limiting aerial asset activity. He said fire behavior had been low overnight.

Kelowna

As for the Clifton /McKinley blaze in Kelowna, Fire Chief Travis Whiting said work on the perimeter continues and the property losses appear less than initially reported.

It appears three homes and two outbuildings were lost, not the five homes reported Monday.

“It’s incredible to watch, BC Wildfire and structural crews are up the hills like mountain goats, working in the dirty areas, ” he said, explaining the perimeter guard was nearing completion.

As evacuation orders are rescinded and become evacuation alerts, details are being posted by the Regional District’s Emergency Operation Centre here.

Lake Country

As with the other fires, crews in Lake Country continued to make headway thanks to the lack of winds, although the immediate aftereffects of the fire are the key concern now.

“As the days wear on, smouldering fires around trees become a real problem for us,” Lake Country Fire Chief Darren Lee said. “Danger trees are a threat to firefighters and the community.”

He said there is a plan in place for danger tree assessment and falling before areas are made safe for residents’ return.

Evacuees

Frustrations have been voiced in recent days by many evacuees who’ve been stuck at reception centres or the group lodging at Prospera Place. However, Emergency Support Services said all evacuees in need were being accommodated in hotels as of Monday night.

Travel restrictions lifted

The provincial emergency travel order put in place on Saturday, which effectively shut down tourism, is to be lifted.

The government said the order had had the effect required and thousands of hotel rooms were made available for people forced from their homes. It also made space in hotels for the many firefighters and emergency crews who are working on the wildfires.

"Because of this, we are lifting travel restrictions for the purpose of staying in temporary accommodation for most of the southern Interior, with the exception of West Kelowna," Bowinn Ma, Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, said.

The order will be lifted for Kelowna, Kamloops, Oliver, Osoyoos, Penticton and Vernon starting tomorrow, Aug. 23, 2023.

"Non-essential travel to West Kelowna continues to be prohibited for the purpose of staying in temporary accommodation, including hotels, motels, inns, bed and breakfasts, hostels, RV parks, and campgrounds, to ensure accommodation is available for those who may need it."