B.C. wildfires force 15,000 to flee -- CBC News

Last Updated: Sunday, July 19, 2009 | 9:31 AM

The largest fire began around 3 p.m. Saturday and spread to the hills above of the Glenrosa subdivison in West Kelowna.The largest fire began around 3 p.m. Saturday and spread to the hills above of the Glenrosa subdivison in West Kelowna. (Submitted by Mike Madill, Photo by Dennis Cable).

The B.C. Forest Service has sent more firefighters and aircraft to the tinder-dry Okanagan region to battle wildfires that have forced as many as 15,000 people from their homes.

Since the fires started Saturday afternoon, flames have destroyed at least nine buildings, including three houses, and charred three square kilometres in West Kelowna.

"It's something that we feared would happen and it has happened," said Coun. Brian Winsby, among those who stayed away from home overnight. "Hopefully, it won't be as serious as a lot of people have feared."

About 4,500 homes in the Glenrosa neighbourhood had to be evacuated because of the largest of three fires.
This photo was taken shortly after the Glenrosa fire started on Saturday afternoon.This photo was taken shortly after the Glenrosa fire started on Saturday afternoon. (Submitted by Derek Burgess)

Derek Burgess, who is helping to find shelter for people who show up at the Mount Boucherie arena, said a second fire, four kilometres from the Glenrosa blaze, has forced about 3,000 people to leave their homes.

"It was about half a hectare yesterday, but has grown to 75 hectares near the Rose Valley Reservoir," he told CBC News on Sunday.

A third, smaller fire is burning north of Kelowna, near Fintry, but no homes are in danger, he said.

The largest fire jumped Highway 97 leading into West Kelowna after the road had been closed in both directions, and the blaze began moving east toward Okanagan Lake.

Thick smoke has forced the closure of Highway 97 where it connects to Highway 97C.

"[The smoke] is terrible, absolutely terrible," said Burgess. Embers and ash from the Glenrosa fire have been falling on his deck in downtown Kelowna, eight kilometres away, he said.

BC Hydro has cut power to the area and smoke is disrupting cellphone service.

Firefighters are being hampered by gusty winds, dry conditions, and high temperatures. Forecasters say the daily high in the Kelowna area will be at least 30 C until next weekend.

Community centres and schools have been opened for those who need a place to stay, and every spare hotel room as far as Penticton has been booked.

After being briefed on the damage, Forests Minister Pat Bell said the Glenrosa fire had the potential to be worse than the firestorm that devastated the city in 2003.

"I don't think you can compare it to 2003 at all. In 2003, you were in a very rural area, the homes were spread out. In the Glenrosa subdivision, much of it is much like any subdivision in British Columbia with smaller lots that are closer together," Bell said.

Many properties with houses in the area have a dozen or more trees on them.

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