The Trepanier Forest Fire has grown to an estimated 200 hectares as of early Monday morning.
Rainfall over night and cooler temperatures have assisted the firefighting efforts, but increased winds this morning remain a concern in trying to contain the blaze.
The forest service plan today is to try and get containment on the fire, which broke out Sunday afternoon in the Trepanier Creek area. A unified plan of attack that will hit the fire on the ground and from the air in hopes of gaining a level of containment on the blaze will continue today.
RCMP and Central Okanagan Search and Rescue volunteers continue to staff checkpoints to ensure security within the evacuation area. Until that evacuation order is rescinded, no one will be allowed within the area.
The fire forced approximately 1,550 people from their homes and an estimated 432 people in the downtown and waterfront areas of Peachland remain on evacuation alert and should be prepared to leave their homes on little or short notice in the event an expanded evacuation is necessary.
A press conference will be held at 11 a.m. at the Kelowna Fire Department Station 1 firehall, 2255 Enterprise Way, where an update on the status of the fire will be given.
Emergency personnel are conducting a detailed damage assessment and are working to notify affected property owners. More information on the property damage is expected to be revealed at the press conference.
The Central Okanagan School District will be attempting to run its regular bus schedule on the Westside today, however, buses will not be traveling into the area that is under the evacuation order.
A school bus will stop in front of the former Peachland Primary School (5800 block of Beach Avenue) at 8:30 am this morning to pick up any middle or secondary students who stayed in alternate accommodation in Peachland last night and are now trying to make their way to Glenrosa Middle School or Mount Boucherie Secondary School.
The Emergency Social Services Reception Centre for evacuated residents requiring assistance with food, lodging or clothing should register at the Westbank Lions Community Centre, 2466 Main St., in West Kelowna. This facility will be open again at 9 a.m. The Reception Centre in Summerland closed at midnight and will not re-open.
Highway 97 remains open to two way traffic, but RCMP and Central Okanagan Search and Rescue volunteers continue to staff checkpoints to ensure security within the evacuation area. Highway 97-C, the Okanagan Connector, is also open to traffic. Check DriveBC.ca for the latest information and any changes in status.
New information and updates on the Evacuation Orders and Alerts will be available on the Regional District Emergency Program website www.cordemergency.ca and watch the Capital News website for further updates at www.kelownacapnews.com.
