Kelowna Fire Now 200 Hectares in Size
By 250 News
Saturday, July 18, 2009 10:24 PM
Prince George, B.C. - BC Forest Minister Pat Bell says the forest fire near Kelowna has the potential to get out of control after learning tonight from teams on the scene that it has grown to 200 hectares in size, and his department is very concerned. “What troubles me even more” says the Forest Minister “is that this fire could have been human caused which makes it even worse.” 4,000 homes are under an evacuation notice.
The Bombers are out of the air for the night Bell says “but we are hoping to get an early start tomorrow to begin trying to get this fire under control.”
The fire has now jumped Highway 97 and is moving in an eastern direction towards Okanagan Lake. Highway 97 is now closed in both directions from Peachland to the junction with Westside Road (19 km). more information is available on the closure by contacting the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure at 1-800-550-4997 or visiting www.drivebc.ca.
BC Forest Service resources on site to assist the West Kelowna fire department include 45 fire fighters, six helicopters, one water tender and heavy equipment. Three groups of air tankers continued to work the fire until grounding time, laying fire retardant to slow the spread of the fire. The blaze has already destroyed three homes, and threatens many more.
BC Forest Service fire crews are also responding to a 55 hectare wildfire at Terrace Mountain, approximately 20 kilometres west of Okanagan Lake. There are no homes currently threatened by this fire. Resources on site include 26 fire fighters, heavy equipment, two helicopters and air tankers have also laid multiple rounds of fire retardant.
BC Forest Service resources on site to assist the West Kelowna fire department include 45 fire fighters, six helicopters, one water tender and heavy equipment. Three groups of air tankers continued to work the fire until grounding time, laying fire retardant to slow the spread of the fire. The blaze has already destroyed three homes, and threatens many more.
BC Forest Service fire crews are also responding to a 55 hectare wildfire at Terrace Mountain, approximately 20 kilometres west of Okanagan Lake. There are no homes currently threatened by this fire. Resources on site include 26 fire fighters, heavy equipment, two helicopters and air tankers have also laid multiple rounds of fire retardant.
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