B.C. wildfire forces 1,500 to evacuate Peachland area

A 200-hectare wildfire in the central Okanagan area of British Columbia has forced about 1,550 people from their homes.

Three homes in the District of Peachland and one abandoned home in the Central Okanagan West electoral area have been lost as a result of the Trepanier forest fire and numerous outbuildings have also been impacted, according to the area’s Emergency Operations Centre. Emergency personnel are conducting a detailed damage assessment and are working to notify affected property owners, the centre said.

Some rain and less wind offered some help to firefighters overnight on Sept. 9. As of Sept. 10, 50% of the fire had been contained, with about 65 structural firefighters, 70 B.C. Wildfire Management Branch firefighters, 17 structural fire apparatus and six helicopters and four water tenders actioning the fire throughout the day.

Another 432 people in the downtown and waterfront areas of Peachland, B.C. were on evacuation alert as of Sept. 10. as fire continued. A state of emergency has been declared for the area.