Hwy 97c fire

[Troy]

News Release No. 6
http://www.cordemergency.ca/CM/Page3353 ... ID=4617233
Date: August 7, 2014
Time: 7:45 p.m.

West Kelowna, B.C. – The Drought Hill Forest Fire, now estimated at 30 hectares, will be monitored overnight by BC Wildfire Management Branch.

Emergency personnel will meet early in the morning on August 8 and an update on the fire and the emergency response is expected to be distributed at 7 a.m.

A Local State of Emergency and Evacuation Order for one home on the 4700 block of MacKinnon Road in West Kelowna remains in place.

Lane closures on Highway 97C are still in effect and motorists should watch for any further traffic restrictions.

Flare ups may be visible overnight. The public is asked not to call 9-1-1 as emergency crews are on the scene and responding as needed.

Emergency response personnel request that the public:

• Slow down on Highway 97C and stay away from emergency vehicles. Watch for lane closures and traffic personnel.
• Monitor http://www.cordemergency.ca, http://www.facebook.com/CORDEmergency or http://www.twitter.com/CO_Emerg for confirmed information about the situation
• Please only CALL 911 in case of emergency.

[madadam]

Drought Hill (K50446)

Last updated: Thursday, August 07, 2014 at 7:38 PM

Location: Drought Hill, north of Hwy 97C
• See approximate location of this wildfire on a Mapquest map.
• View an interactive map of all active Wildfires of Note.

Discovered: Thursday, August 07, 2014

Size: 30.0 hectares (estimated)

Status: Active

[Frisk]

What happens tonight depends a lot on the wind. If the west to east wind calms, we will see the usual downslope winds that'll just push the fire back onto itself.

[Catz]

*removed*

[meadbh]

A helicopter was overhead as recently as five minutes ago. From Westbank, there is a lot less smoke visible now. Fingers crossed for a calm night!

[Frisk]

There's been some intense gusts of wind here on the west side, blowing west to east. Picking up a lot.

[artifact cat]

As of 10:00 PM the side of the mountain beside the Okanagan Connector was covered in small and large fires and the wind was a factor in increasing fire activity after dark.
The aircraft and helicopters did an amazing job of trying to hold the fire in check. Well done everyone and the firefighters too. Thanks.

Tomorrow may be busy in the morning at dawn .....

[matai]

And I think the one evacuated home in question just recently got into an agreement for fire protection with the District of Peachland.

[Frisk]

Thanks for the update.

It's pretty breezy out, wind gauge is steady at 30 km/h, there's been some gusts 65+.

[Frisk]

The fire didn't really do much overnight. The winds calmed after midnight & the cooler temps kept things quiet.

[artifact cat]

The fire is much improved. A steep mountain makes it too difficult to attack from the ground. There are spot fires on the mountain still and gusting winds are slowly pushing the fire uphill as the effect of the water drops dry out. An aggressive air attack may hold the fire today.
Big thanks to all firefighters on the ground and in the air.

[Frisk]

Breezy here on the westside again. Started about 20 minutes ago.

[Darlin06]

Latest article says it's only 2500 metres from Glenrosa... Where abouts in Glenrosa would that be??

[Swoop]

Latest article says it's only 2500 metres from Glenrosa... Where abouts in Glenrosa would that be??

...heading due south over Drought Hill from McKellar Rd. and Turnbull Rd. - 2500m = 2.5 km's...

**note: NOT an offical Ministry photo depicting fire location**

[Queen K]

The fire didn't really do much overnight. The winds calmed after midnight & the cooler temps kept things quiet.

And we Thank GOD for that!!!!