Peachland Fire

UPDATE 9:P.M. SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 9 - Due to continued wildfire activity from the Trepanier Forest Fire, the Evacuation Order has been expanded to include another estimated 600 residents (375 properties) in the Ponderosa area of Peachland.

This area was previously on Alert. This expanded Evacuation includes the properties on the following roads:

• 1^st Avenue
• 2^nd Avenue
• 3^rd Avenue
• 4^th Avenue
• 6^th Avenue
• 7^th Avenue
• Clements Crescent
• Pincushion Place
• Ponderosa Drive
• Ponderosa Place

Residents in this area are asked to report to the Emergency Support Services Reception Centre in the Summerland Arena and Curling Club, 8820 Jubilee Road East.

This area includes Peachland Elementary School, which will be closed until further notice. School District No. 23 will provide further details for parents of students at Peachland Elementary.

It’s estimated that 1,550 people are affected by the Evacuation Orders. Residents with animals are asked to bring them to their nearest reception centre and they will be assisted by representatives of the Canadian Disaster Animal Response Team.

The Evacuation Alert has also been extended to include all properties east of Highway 97 including the Downtown Peachland and waterfront area from Princeton Avenue to Robinson Place. Residents in this area should be prepared to leave their homes with little or short notice.

The latest map showing the expanded Evacuation area and Evacuation Alert area is available at www.cordemergency.ca.

The forest fire, which was reported around 3:00 pm this afternoon is located within the District of Peachland and Regional District of Central Okanagan, south west of the Okanagan Connector.

It’s actively being fought by the BC Wildfire Management Branch along with crews from the District of West Kelowna, District of Peachland and City of Kelowna.

Affected residents will be directed to the appropriate Emergency Support Services Reception Centre.

Highway 97 is open to single lane alternating traffic from Princeton Avenue in Peachland and Glenrosa Road in West Kelowna. The Okanagan Connector Highway 97-C is open.

Motorists are advised to check out the DriveBC website for the latest status on highway conditions.

The ESS Reception Centre remains open at the Westbank Lions Community Centre, 2466 Main Street in West Kelowna.

Affected residents within Peachland are asked not to turn on their irrigation systems or shut off any pre-programmed irrigation in order to conserve water for the fire fighting operation.

Local States of Emergency have been declared for the affected areas within the Central Okanagan West Electoral Area and in the District of Peachland.

The Central Okanagan Emergency Operation Centre is in operation to support the crews fighting this wildfire. New information and updates on the Evacuation Orders and Alerts will be available on the Regional District Emergency Program website www.cordemergency.ca and updates will also be there and released to the media as soon as it becomes available.

Public inquiries can be directed to 1-877-569-8490.
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An Evacuation Order for the Trepanier Forest Fire has been expanded to include the following properties:
 

• Chidley Road
• 5091 Cousins Place
• One property north of Highway 97 next to 4713 MacKinnon Road
• 5350 -5358 Huston Road
• 4713, 4850, 5126 MacKinnon Road
• 3642 Walker Road

Affected residents will be directed to the appropriate Emergency Support Services Reception Centre.  

An Evacuation Alert is in effect for properties affected by a forest fire south west of the Okanagan Connector.  The streets within the Evacuation Alert area include:

• 1st  Avenue
• 2nd  Avenue
• 3rd Avenue
• 4th Avenue
• 6th Avenue
• 7th Avenue
• Clements Crescent
• Pincushion Place
• Ponderosa Drive
• Ponderosa Place

An Evacuation Alert means residents should be prepared to leave their homes with little or short notice should the fire threat grow and the Evacuation Order is expanded.
 

The first areas placed under an order:

Regional District of Central Okanagan, B.C.  – An Evacuation Order is in place for properties affected by a forest fire south west of the Okanagan Connector including Trepanier Road from the Connector including Star Place all within the Central Okanagan West Electoral Area and an area within the District of Peachland on the following roads

• Clarence Road
• Coldham Road
• Cousins Place
• Cousins Road
• Desert Pines Avenue
• Dryden Road
• Greata Road
• Huston Road
• Inglis Place
• Lang Court
• Lever Court
• Lornell Court
• Mackinnon Road
• MacNeill Court
• Morrison Crescent
• Morrison Court
• Morrison Place
• Shaw Road
• Smith Way
• Star Place
• Sutherland Road
• Trepanier Bench Road
• Trepanier Heights
• Trepanier Road
• Walker Road
• Witt Place

An Emergency Social Services Reception Centre will be opened at 6:00 pm.  Residents within the Evacuation Area are asked to report to the Emergency Support Services Reception Centre at the Westbank Lions Community Hall, 2466 Main Street in West Kelowna.  Affected residents are asked to report to the Reception Centre in person to register.

Local States of Emergency have been declared for the affected areas within the Central Okanagan West Electoral Area and in the District of Peachland.

The interface fire was reported around 3:00 p.m. this afternoon.  BC Wildfire Management crews and equipment along with crews from West Kelowna, Peachland and Kelowna are actively fighting the fire.

The Central Okanagan Emergency Operation Centre is in operation to support the crews fighting this wildfire.