Flames continue to surge towards homes in West Kelowna from the McDougall Creek wildfire. (submitted photo/Amanda Zolner)

By Alex Rawnsley

massive effort

‘It was a devastating night:’ McDougall Creek wildfire surges as thousands evacuated from West Kelowna

Aug 18, 2023 | 11:42 AM

WEST KELOWNA — Thousands have been evacuated from their homes and an unspecified number of properties lost as flames from the McDougall Creek wildfire continue to spread.

Evacuation alerts and orders were issued and enforced for over 2,400 properties overnight Thursday, Aug. 17 into Friday, Aug. 18 as West Kelowna, Kelowna and the surrounding area saw flames continue to encroach on their communities.

Jason Brolund, fire chief with West Kelowna Fire Rescue said the fires and overnight efforts to suppress them were described as “100 years of firefighting all at once, in one night.”

“It was a devastating night last night, probably one of the toughest of my career, the toughest of all of our firefighter’s careers likely. One of the most challenging nights of firefighting in our history.”

While he was unable to give an accurate count, citing ongoing firefighting efforts and safety concerns, he said a “significant” number of properties were lost.

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He also said evacuations were largely orderly as a vast majority of people were prepared to leave, however, pockets of residents needed extra help.

“We had people trapped, that’s a fire chief’s worst nightmare. Those emergency responders were trapped because they were rescuing members of the public who chose not to leave.”

Conditions overnight did not help firefighters.

Gusty winds fanned flames and helped the fire change directions multiple times. Overnight recoveries, during cooler hours, were described as “poor” by the BC Wildfire Service, meaning crews were unable to gain the ground they wanted before the hotter daylight hours.

Brolund said the focus is squarely on securing the outer boundaries of the blaze.

“The firefight going on right now is as significant today as it was last night, so we need to put our focus there. We need to stop this fire before it continues any further, then we’ll get onto the counting, then we’ll get onto getting people back to their homes when it’s safe.”

Roughly 90 firefighting personnel were in action overnight, and more are expected Friday.

Stronger winds are expected and Brolund told residents to brace for a Friday night which is set to be “scary”.

“We may have another scary night tonight. People are going to see that glow again and it’s going to look worse than you ever expected. But know that we’re there, we’re watching it. Be aware for embers, watch out for ash, this fire has been demonstrated to spot over long distances, if you see that happening phone 911.”

Resources are being deployed from provincial agencies, local and regional fire departments as well as other help from elsewhere in the province including Vancouver Island.

RCMP officers, also from as far away as the Island, were put to work knocking on doors and helping people evacuate.

“The team from the RCMP last night, police officers just kept coming and I don’t know where they all came from but they knocked on every single door that I asked them to and it was thousands of doors that were knocked on, it was incredible,” Brolund said.

Chief Travis Whiting of Kelowna Fire Department said everyone is working together with crews from a variety of departments all coming together.

“We are putting resources where most need is. We are not looking at this as any single jurisdiction but as a single jurisdiction across the region where we put the best resources where they’re best needed and have the biggest impact.”

In response to the evacuations, multiple arenas in the area have been transformed into evacuation centres.

Royal LePage Place in West Kelowna, Prospera Place in Kelowna and Kal Tire Place in Vernon are all offering a variety of services for those displaced.

People affected, or those looking for the latest information regarding evacuation alerts/orders, are encouraged to visit CORDemergency.ca.

As of 10 a.m. on Friday, the Kelowna International Airport has shut down their airspace due to wildfire activity, and to give priority to aerial firefighters, according to a statement on their website.

alex.rawnsley@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @alexrawnsley