(UPDATED at 6:48 p.m. PT, July 21, 2015)
The British Columbia Wildfire Service reported at 3:02 p.m. on Tuesday that the Westside Road fire northwest of Kelowna has grown to 430 hectares (1,062 acres).
****
(Originally published at 12:06 p.m. PT, July 21, 2015; UPDATED at 1:28 p.m. PT, July 21, 2015)
The Westside Road Fire on the west side of Okanagan Lake northwest of Kelowna, B.C. has forced the evacuation of approximately 70 homes as of
Tuesday at 8 a.m. The fire became more active on Monday, growing to 300 hectares (741 acres).
Overnight on Monday crews were able to prevent any loss of structures in the Shelter Cove area, in spite of downslope winds and aggressive fire behavior. Firefighters are working to protect power poles and extinguish spot fires in the subdivision.
The fire is currently burning at Rank 4 (highly vigorous surface fire, torching or passive crown fire).
Tuesday morning 23 firefighters were assigned to the fire. They expect to receive help later in the day from two helicopters, two 20-person crews, and water-scooping air tankers. (UPDATE from the BCWS at 1:16 p.m. on Tuesday: there are currently 19 firefighters and 4 air tankers on scene. There is no word about additional fire resources en route.)
In July of 2009 two fires broke out on the west side of Okanagan Lake that required the evacuation of 12,500 people. (Map of the location of the fires.)
Now near West Kelowna. Aggressive #wildfire RT @CUrquhartGlobal: Fire fighters rush to save house @GlobalBC @bc1 pic.twitter.com/2sJUt3ff6E
— Marsha Gabriel (@mgabrielGlobal) July 21, 2015
New wild fire burning in west kelowna pic.twitter.com/5GOTq6wi3v — jessyka trudeau (@winchesterjunki) July 21, 2015
