Restless night below the fire

Photo: Contributed - Jeff Hamilton

Jeff Hamilton didn't get much sleep Thursday night.

Hamilton lives just below the Tourist Information Centre about 150 feet from Highway 97C.

At the height of the Drought Hill fire Thursday evening, Hamilton says the fire was no more than about 450 feet away from his home.

"Nobody has come to talk with us. I know it's across the highway but all it takes is a little wind shift," says Hamilton.

"I was up every hour or so coming outside and tossed and turned and finally about 5 o'clock I think I actually got some sleep."

Hamilton lived in the Rose Valley area during the 2009 fires and was on evacuation alert and was evacuated during the 2012 Peachland Fire.

He says he, his wife and three kids are all packed up and ready to go if need be.

As of Friday afternoon, Hamilton says there is no fire activity in front of him as most of the flames have moved up the hills towards Glenrosa.

He says the winds that traditionally hit the area each afternoon have begun to pick up.

"It's blowing away from us but that's not good for Glenrosa."

While he does have the highway as a barrier, Hamilton says there are still anxious moments watching what could happen.

"I know the land behind us here is tinder, tinder, tinder dry and there are pine beetle trees all behind us. I would like for regional district to come in and clean up a little bit but there are too many areas.

Down from the there are about 45 acres of again tinder dry....yes, it's a little unnerving."