UPDATE 10:20 a.m.
BC Wildfire Services are continuing to directly attack the Walroy Lake wildfire in Kelowna throughout the day on Wednesday.
Structure protection crews are also on scene extinguishing active fires and taking care of hot spots close to homes and other structures. Some crews remained stationed below Clifton in case of rolling debris on steep slopes in the area.
A 20-foot wetline has been completed from the Union and Begbie area around to the south side of the fire. Crews at the north end of the fire continue to establish a 50-foot wetline and are expecting to double it to 100 feet by Thursday.
On Wednesday, the fire activity is low, sitting at rank 2 but as the smoke disappears, fire crews are expecting increased fire activity.
The fire remains at 794 hectares.
Original
The weather played good cop, bad cop as rain and lightning filled the Kelowna skies on Tuesday night but going on Wednesday, there are no changes to the Walroy Lake wildfire in Kelowna’s McKinley neighbourhood.
As the weather improved across the Central Okanagan on Tuesday, the blanketed smoke lifted and BC Wildfire Service crews were able to establish the size of the fire grew slightly, to an estimated 794 hectares.
Through Monday and Tuesday, the fire showed rank 2 (low) fire activity as crews directly attacked the blaze, continued to take care of hot spots, protect structures and establish wetlines to try to contain the blaze.
Going into Wednesday, all evacuation orders and alerts remain the same. For a map of evacuation orders and alerts visit cordemergency.ca/map.
The Walroy Lake wildfire has been part of the Grouse Complex since Saturday night. It is a Grouse Complex with the McDougall Creek wildfire in West Kelowna and the Clarke Creek wildfire in Lake Country.
The fire remains out of control and is one of 381 active wildfires in the province.
Transport Canada and the BC Wildfire Service prohibit the use of drones of any size near a wildfire. The operation of any aircraft not associated with fire suppression activities within a radius of five nautical miles around a fire, including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs or drones), is illegal. Anyone found interfering with wildfire control efforts may face penalties up to $100,000 and or up to one year in jail.
Black Press Media will keep updated throughout the day.
READ MORE: Premier Eby tours wildfire devastation in Central Okanagan
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jordy.cunningham@kelownacapnews.com
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