British Columbia is imposing bans on travel to wildfire zones after evacuee numbers doubled to 30,000 or more, on a day of dramatic developments in the province's desperate battle against hundreds of blazes. The McDougall Creek wildfire burns on the mountainside above lakefront homes in West Kelowna, B.C., on Friday, Aug. 18, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

By Pete McIntyre

MASSIVE FIRES

Over 60 properties lost in Kelowna & West Kelowna as fires continue to burn

Aug 21, 2023 | 3:20 PM

KELOWNA — Details about some of the property losses connected to the wildfires in the Central Okanagan were released at the Monday morning (Aug. 21) update in Kelowna.

The other key focus was efforts that are underway to prepare for allowing the thousands of evacuated residents to return home, which could start later this week.

West Kelowna Fire Chief Jason Brolund said at least 50 structures have been confirmed as fully, or partially, lost in his city and the Westbank First Nation so far, but added the most damaged neighbourhoods are still to be assessed.

Brolund listed off several neighbourhoods that had NOT sustained structural losses which were Rose Valley, Tallus Ridge, Smith Creek, the Lens Road Trailer Park and Shannon Lake.

Travis Whiting, fire chief in Kelowna, said five homes in one area, which he didn’t specify, were lost in his city, while Darren Lee, fire chief in Lake Country, said two to three homes were lost and several more had fire damage.

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Ross Kotscherofski, chief of the North Westside Fire Department, confirmed structural losses all the way to Lake Okanagan Resort, with most of the impact in Traders Cove, but added there has been no property damage north of Lake Okanagan Resort, which was destroyed.

All of the chiefs, and the BC Wildfire Service, reported good progress in their respective firefighting efforts and added the focus this week is on getting the fires held, or contained, which is when they can consider lifting some of the evacuation orders and alerts.

Jarrad Schroeder with the BC Wildfire Service said the fires in West Kelowna, Kelowna and Lake Country, now called the Grouse Complex, remain “out of control,” but added “excellent progress” has been made on all of them in the last 24 hours, helped by the cooler weather.

He said they can start to consider rescinding evacuation orders and alerts once the fires are being held.

Chief Brolund said they will consider letting residents go home only when it is safe to do so, noting there are numerous hazards in neighbourhoods such as downed power lines and dangerous trees.

Kelowna chief Whiting said residents from his city won’t be going home in the “next day or two” but added getting people back home is one of their highest priorities.

One positive sign came Sunday evening as about 60 properties in Kelowna were moved from evacuation orders to alerts, allowing them to go back home in the Quail Ridge Boulevard area, and in the UBC Okanagan District.

Kari O’Rourke, public information officer for the Emergency Operations Centre, said they are “working to get everyone home as soon as possible, and when it’s safe to do so.”

“But there are many steps needed to be taken in order for that to happen,” she said.

O’Rourke said the Canada Force Task 1 team is going through affected neighbourhoods, mapping structural losses, while hazard assessments are also ongoing.

“The mapping and assessments are actively underway and nearing completion in some areas. Today, the Canada Task Force 1 is working on the west side. The team is hoping to complete the Westside Road within the Electoral Area West over the next few days,” O’Rourke added.

There are about 9,800 properties evacuated from the Central Okanagan, with 10,000 more on alert.

At last update, Kelowna International Airport was expecting flights to be cancelled today until 9 p.m. after allowing some flights to get in and out overnight.

Travellers are advised to check with their airline for updated flight information.