Wind main concern as wildfire near Peachland continues to burn

Heavy winds and smoke has made it impossible to get an updated size of the Glen Lake wildfire west of Peachland, so it remains listed at 763 hectares.

Originally reported at 15 kilometres west of Peachland, the fire is now burning out of control about 6 km from the district's municipal boundaries. That change is partly due to mapping corrections but also because the fire has travelled, BC Wildfire Service fire information officer Evan Lizotte told iNFOnews.ca.

It's much cooler than during the hot days of August when the McDougall Lake wildfire destroyed homes in and around West Kelowna, wind is still a problem for fire crews.

“Right now, the biggest concern is wind,” Lizotte said. “We’ve been getting some expected winds but they have been typically higher than anticipated.”

Gusts of up to 65 km/h were recorded yesterday, although the Environment Canada weather forecast only called for gusts up to 40 km/h.

“That increased fire activity and fire behaviour in the late afternoon yesterday, Sept. 19, so BC Wildfire Service is working with Peachland fire department and local structural protection specialists on preparation for structure protection,” Lizotte said. “We want to be prepared just in case.”

Those winds have come from the north so the fire has been pushed southward towards Summerland but it’s not as close to that community as it is to Peachland.

READ MORE: iN PHOTOS: Westside Road reopens as residents deal with the aftermath of wildfire

Evacuation alerts have been issued for much of the area west of Highway 97 and south of the Okanagan Connector through parts of Summerland.

Environment Canada's forecast calls for winds gusting up to 40 km/h in Summerland today. It’s expected to clear overnight with a forecast high temperature of 20 Celsius tomorrow and 22 C on Friday and Saturday.

“We’re focused on putting heavy buckets from helicopters on the east side and just keep hammering that side as much as we can,” Lizotte said.

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