Illegal Campfire Suspected in Kalamoir Park Wildfire; Park Closed Due to Hazards

An illegal campfire is suspected of sparking the wildfire that recently swept through West Kelowna's Kalamoir Regional Park, forcing hundreds of residents to flee their homes. The blaze scorched more than nine hectares of land before being extinguished.

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RCMP come up to me and he said, ‘You have one minute sir to leave and the fire is 500 yards from your front door.'

Residents described a panicked evacuation, with one recounting being given only a minute to leave as the fire approached. The wildfire erupted on the south side of the park, fueled by strong winds, and quickly grew in size. While the fire is out, officials emphasize that significant hazards persist throughout the park, which remains closed to the public.

Park officials noted that the fire was unexpected and highlighted dangers such as unstable terrain, hazardous trees that could fall, and hidden ash pits where trees once stood. Approximately one-third of the park was burned.

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The fire was pretty unexpected.

However, West Kelowna's Fire Chief stated that the damage could have been far more severe without decades of fuel mitigation work conducted in the park. This proactive work, carried out by the regional district, proved its worth in containing the fire's spread.

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We have trees that are burnt that potentially could fall, injure, harm people. We have rocks that are potentially broken, as a result of the heat of the fire, that could tumble down and injure people. We have burn holes on the sides of the trails, where a tree used to stand and we call them ash pits.

Geotechnical specialists and hazard-tree experts are scheduled to assess the park next week to determine the full extent of the damage and the possibility of reopening sections. In the meantime, the public is strongly urged to stay away from the park due to safety concerns. Officials are also reminding the public that campfires are prohibited in parks and can result in fines of up to $1,000.

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This is a fire that we have planned for decades. The regional district has done wildfire mitigation work in the park for a day like today and it proved its worth.