Progress made on West Kelowna wildfire, evacuations eased
Posted August 23, 2016 3:38 pm.
Last Updated August 23, 2016 4:31 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
WEST KELOWNA (NEWS 1130) – People are finally being allowed to return home after a big wildfire near West Kelowna forced evacuations.
The Bear Creek wildfire is 52 hectares in size at this point, and Max Birkner with the BC Wildfire service says it’s 75 percent contained.
Still, the work continues to ensure it’s eventually extinguished safely.
“There are 50 firefighters on scene right now, as well as one helicopter and two water tenders,” says Birkner.
People in West Kelowna will still see a fair bit of smoke in the days to come — as for what the fire situation in that region could look like over the next couple of weeks, Birkner says it’s too early to say.
LISTEN: NEWS 1130 anchors Jim Bennie and Amanda Wawryk speak live with the BC Wildfire Service’s Max Birkner
“If you’re going to be camping anywhere in the Kamloops Fire Centre, the most important thing, if you do have a campfire, we don’t have a campfire ban right now, we are asking people if they’re going to be leaving their campsite, that they make sure it’s cool to the touch before you leave,” says Birkner.
At one point, 156 properties were no-go zones.
