The White Rock Lake wildfire continues to burn out of control at an estimated 55,000 hectares, growing more by more than 20,000 hectares in the past two days and prompting thousands of more evacuations in the Okanagan on Friday night.
Structure protection crews were patrolling as far north as Swan Lake, moving up and down the evacuated areas on Westside Road through the night while winds of up to 40 km/h challenged suppression efforts.
#BCWildfire pic.twitter.com/ugwJ1qe2UH
— Shylah Lariviere (@potterywitch86) August 7, 2021
READ MORE: White Rock Lake wildfire grows to 55,000 hectares; Vernon, Coldstream, RDNO areas on alert
READ MORE: Nearly 1,000 Westside Road properties under evacuation as White Rock Lake wildfire rages
Evacuation orders now extend from La Casa Lakeside Resort in the Regional District of Central Okanagan through the whole of Okanagan Indian Band IR No. 1.
Evacuation alerts were also expanded, now including the entire communities of Vernon, Spallumcheen, Armstrong, Chase and surrounding areas in the Regional District of North Okanagan.
The City of Vernon’s late-night expansion to its alert area was done in an abundance of caution and was based on advice from BC Wildfire Services. *
The alert in Vernon excludes the Predator Ridge and Sparkling Hill neighbourhoods; Okanagan Landing South neighbourhoods (areas of Eastside Road, The Outback, Ellison Provincial Park Inkster, Delcliffe, Whitepoint, Smith Road, Peters Road, Kokanee/Sunset properties, Harbour Heights, Beverly Hills Estates); and the Commonage Area, south of Bench Row Road.
#WhiteRockLakeFire view from across the lake at Ellison Park. Can see emergency vehicles just below along Westside Rd with the fire steadily moving down. Stay safe everyone ðŸ™. #BCWildfire pic.twitter.com/aaCNhqkGee
— Jennifer Granger (@jgranger001) August 7, 2021
Through the day on Friday, the blaze was actioned by 99 wildland firefighters, 125 structure protection personnel, 13 helicopters, eight danger tree assessors/fallers and 51 pieces of heavy equipment.
Highway 97 remains closed in both directions between Pleasant Valley Road and Monte Creek, and Westside Road is closed from Pinecrest Road to Six Mile Creek Road.
READ MORE: Refusing to evacuate White Rock Lake wildfire orders ‘nothing but selfish’: OKIB Chief
READ MORE: Wildfire crews forced to rescue Monte Lake residents who ignored evacuation order
Do you have something to add to this story, or something else we should report on? Email: michael.rodriguez@kelownacapnews.com
@michaelrdrguezLike us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
Editor’s note: A version of this story did not include Vernon’s latest evacuation alert information and has been corrected for accuracy. Black Press apologizes for the error and any inconvenience.
Westside Road seen from Okanagan Landing Aug. 6, 2021. (Jenny Lane - Facebook)
Smoke blots out the sky with red-grey hues in Vernon on Aug. 6, 2021.(@lazyproc - Twitter)
Two Lumby dogs, Hope and Star, were not big fans of the fiery skies on Friday evening, Aug. 6, 2021. (Susie Heal Catt - Facebook)
Mounties blocking access to Adventure Bay and Canadian Lakeview Estates on Aug. 6, 2021 after an evacuation alert was issued. (Vernon North Okanagan RCMP photo)
A Vernon street with what the photographer described as an “apocalyptic” view on Aug. 6, 2021. (u/spankymustard - Reddit)
The White Rock Lake wildfire burns near the Westside on Friday night, Aug. 6, 2021. (Steve Wensley - Prime Light Media)
