Thousands under evacuation order as wildfire grows west of Okanagan Lake

Evacuation orders remain in effect for thousands of properties in the Central Okanagan region as the Quilpituk Creek Wildfire continues to rage on the west side of Okanagan Lake. As of Tuesday, 2,223 properties are under evacuation order, with an additional 425 properties on evacuation alert, urging residents to be prepared to leave at a moment's notice.

The British Columbia Wildfire Service reports the Quilpituk Creek wildfire has reached 742 hectares and is classified as out of control. The fire is burning north of Kelowna, impacting Westside Road, which is closed north of Caesars Landing. While the fire experienced significant growth on Monday, officials noted it is moving upslope and away from community areas.

Crews worked through the night to protect structures, with fire department personnel and structure protection teams on-site Tuesday extinguishing hotspots in the Lacasa community. Efforts include establishing a 10-foot edge on the fire perimeter, setting up hoselays for water delivery, and conducting danger tree assessments. The wildfire has also disrupted essential services, with BC Hydro reporting approximately 1,500 customers without power in the affected area.