Wildfire that triggered evacuations, alerts near Peachland grows overnight

Emergency officials in British Columbia’s Okanagan region say a wildfire that has forced hundreds to evacuate has grown to more than two square kilometres in size.

Central Okanagan Emergency Operations says in a release that all evacuation orders and alerts for the Munro Lake wildfire remain in effect.

The orders currently cover 325 properties in Peachland, about 25 kilometres southwest of Kelowna.

In addition to the evacuation orders, more than 1,100 properties near the fire are on alert, with residents told to be ready to leave on short notice.

Shae Stearns, a fire information officer with the Kamloops Fire Centre, says the fire is mostly deemed to be a Rank 2.

“That means a low, vigorous surface fire with a slow rate of spread,” Stearns said.

There are pockets of fire deemed as Rank 3, which means an organized flame front, a moderate rate of speed, and occasional candling, according to the BC Wildfire Service.

“So the fire is able to kind of pre-heat the fuels ahead of it and just dry those out a bit quicker,” she said.

Stearns says they will continue to monitor the blaze, as winds are expected to pick up along with possible sunny conditions over the weekend.

Conditions can change quickly, she says.

“It’s a good reminder for people to make sure you’re dialed in to the correct information channels where you can receive updates,” she said.

There are about 111 active wildfires still burning across the province.