This story encompasses the events of the Mount Law wildfire on Sunday, Aug. 15. For the latest updates, click here.
UPDATE: Monday, Aug. 16 12:45 a.m.
More homes have been placed on evacuation alert due to the Mount Law wildfire between West Kelowna and Peachland.
The new alerts apply to 60 properties, including some within Peachland and the Regional District of Central Okanagan. They affect the following properties:
- 4305 to 4495 Maxwell Road
- 5039 to 5051 Trepanier Court
- 4965 to 4975 Venner Court
- 4715 to 5078 Paradise Valley Drive
- 4414 to 4690 Trepanier Road
- 4995 Trepanier Road
- 4850 to 5090 MacKinnon Road
An evacuation alert remains in effect for the entirety of West Kelowna’s Glenrosa neighbourhood and 226 properties in the area west of Glen Canyon and Goats Peak, inclusive of 3801 Gellatly Road south (north end) to 300 Seclusion Bay Rd (south end). In total, more than 1,900 properties are on evacuation alert.
The evacuation order for approximately 460 properties put in place earlier Sunday evening remains in effect and includes:
- 4713 MacKinnon Road
- 5000 Glenrosa Road (Bull Mountain Resort – formerly Crystal Mountain Resort)
- 4425 Glenrosa Road (Telemark Nordic Club)
- 3237 to 3530 Carre Road
- 3237 to 3512 Corine Road
- 3372 to 3725 Emerald Road
- 3496 Fenton Road
- 3318 to 3475 Gill Road
- 3280 to 3802 Glenrosa Road
- 3301 to 3583 McKellar Road
- 3230 to 3525 Preston Road
- 3325 to 3770 Turnbull Road
- All properties east of Gates Rd. to Glenrosa Rd.
Residents on evacuation order should leave their properties immediately and residents on alert should be ready to leave at a moment’s notice.
Evacuees can register for Emergency Support Services online at ess.gov.bc.ca. Those requiring assistance, including lodging, are asked to report to the reception centre at Mount Boucherie Secondary School at 2751 Cameron Road in West Kelowna.
The Central Okanagan Emergency Operations Centre called the 200-hectare Mount Law wildfire a “dynamic and evolving situation.” The fire is suspected to have been human-caused.
UPDATE: 11:40 p.m.
More homes are on evacuation alert in West Kelowna Sunday night as the Mount Law wildfire threatens homes in the Glenrosa neighbourhood and beyond.
The new alert applies to 226 properties in the area west of Glen Canyon and Goats Peak, inclusive of 3801 Gellatly Road south (north end) to 300 Seclusion Bay Rd (south end). Around 1,900 people in the area are now on evacuation alert.
The evacuation order remains unchanged, affecting 460 properties east of Gates Road to Glenrosa Road. Residents on evacuation order should leave their properties immediately. A live map of orders and alerts is available here.
The Emergency Support Services reception centre for the Mount Law fire has been relocated to Mount Boucherie Secondary School at 2751 Cameron Road in West Kelowna.
Update: Emergency Support Services (ESS) reception centre for #MountLaw fire has been relocated to Mount Boucherie Secondary, 2751 Cameron Road, West Kelowna. #WestKelowna
— Central Ok Emergency (@CO_Emerg) August 16, 2021
In a Sunday evening Facebook post, West Kelowna Fire Rescue said it’s “all hands on deck” tonight, with crews helping put out spot fires and doing structure protection.
The fire continues to burn at an estimated 200 hectares in size. The BC Wildfire Service says the fire is about two kilometres outside of West Kelowna.
UPDATE: 9:40 p.m.
The Mount Law wildfire, currently burning at an estimated 200 hectares near West Kelowna, is suspected to be human-caused, according to the BC Wildfire Service.
The blaze, threatening several homes in West Kelowna’s Glenrosa neighbourhood, has been declared a fire of note and is suspected to be human-caused.
Several homes in Glenrosa have been ordered evacuated and the entire neighbourhood is on evacuation alert.
The evacuation order has been expanded to include all properties east of Gates Road to Glenrosa Road.
The following properties remain evacuation order:
- 4713 MacKinnon Road
- 5000 Glenrosa Road (Bull Mountain Resort – formerly Crystal Mountain Resort)
- 4425 Glenrosa Road (Telemark Nordic Club)
- 3237 to 3530 Carre Road
- 3237 to 3512 Corine Road
- 3372 to 3725 Emerald Road
- 3496 Fenton Road
- 3318 to 3475 Gill Road
- 3280 to 3802 Glenrosa Road
- 3301 to 3583 McKellar Road
- 3230 to 3525 Preston Road
- 3325 to 3770 Turnbull Road
Map of evacuation orders and alerts. (Central Okanagan Emergency Operations Centre)
Wildfire crews are responding with 11 ground personnel, and multiple pieces of heavy equipment. Several firefighters from the West Kelowna Fire Department and Vernon Fire Department are assisting.
Crews will remain on site overnight.
UPDATE: 9:13 p.m.
All properties in Glenrosa are under evacuation alert as the Mount Law wildfire continues to show aggressive behaviour.
Residents in the area are advised to be ready to leave their home at a moment’s notice and should be prepared to leave their home for an extended period of time. Make arrangements for pets and pack essential items such as documents and medication, said Central Okanagan Emergency Services.
Several homes in the neighbourhood have been ordered evacuated.
The BC Wildfire Service’s dashboard now shows the blaze at an estimated 40 hectares in size. The fire is suspected to be human-caused.
UPDATE: 8:33 pm
An evacuation order has been issued for properties in West Kelowna’s Upper Glenrosa area due to the Mount Law wildfire.
The Central Okanagan Emergency Operations Centre has been activated to support BC Wildfire Service crews fighting the fire. A state of local emergency has been declared for West Kelowna.
Properties on evacuation order are:
- 4713 MacKinnon Road
- 5000 Glenrosa Road (Bull Mountain Resort – formerly Crystal Mountain Resort)
- 4425 Glenrosa Road (Telemark Nordic Club)
- 3237 to 3530 Carre Road
- 3237 to 3512 Corine Road
- 3372 to 3725 Emerald Road
- 3496 Fenton Road
- 3318 to 3475 Gill Road
- 3280 to 3802 Glenrosa Road
- 3301 to 3583 McKellar Road
- 3230 to 3525 Preston Road
- 3325 to 3770 Turnbull Road
All residents under evacuation order should leave their properties immediately and register with Emergency Support Services (ESS). An ESS reception centre for evacuated residents specific to the wildfire has been set up at Jim Lind Arena located at 2760 Cameron Road, West Kelowna.
UPDATE: 7:03 p.m.
The wildfire near Peachland is now estimated to be eight hectares in size, said BC Wildfire Service.
Westbound lanes between Highway 97 and Brenda Mine Road have also been closed. Crews are on scene and Drive BC is urging motorists to expect delays.
The fire is just off the Okanagan Connector and heavy smoke and flames are visible in the area. There are currently 11 personnel, four helicopters, four skimmers, heavy equipment and a water tender. BC Wildfire Service, West Kelowna Fire Department and RCMP are currently at the scene.
Fire off the Okanagan Connector seen from the Peachland waterfront. Estimated 8 ha in size. pic.twitter.com/XXN9AwYA2E
— Michael Rodriguez (@MichaelRdrguez) August 16, 2021
ORIGINAL:
Another wildfire has ignited on Sunday evening near Peachland.
The fire is just off the Okanagan Connector and heavy smoke and flames are visible in the area.
BC Wildfire Service information officer Charlene Mortensen said the fire was discovered around 5 p.m. and the West Kelowna Fire Department is on scene alongside wildfire crews.
Currently, a single helicopter is bucketing water to the blaze.
More information is expected to be released in the coming hours regarding the size of the blaze.
READ MORE: Firefighters battling Sunday wind in White Rock Lake wildfire
Do you have something to add to this story, or something else we should report on? Email: michael.rodriguez@kelownacapnews.com
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(Candace Chevallier photo)
(Kerry Hutter photo)
Smoke from the Mt. Law fire near Peachland. (Michael Rodriguez/Capital News)
Smoke from the Mt. Law fire as seen from downtown Kelowna. (Michael Rodriguez/Kelowna Capital News)
The Mount Law wildfire seen from Kelowna’s Dilworth Mountain on Sunday, Aug. 15. (Karen Hill/Capital News)
