A wildfire burning above Glenrosa on Wednesday evening. UPDATE 10:30 p.m. The Regional District of Central Okanagan has issued evacuation alerts to 17 properties near the Jack Creek wildfire. Property owners along Maxwell Road (4305-4495) are being told to pack and prepare to leave at a moment’s notice as a precaution. Maxwell Road is near the Trepanier Road exit off Highway 97C. An interactive map of the evacuation alert area is here. “A further update on the alert is expected mid-morning Thursday, September 8 after consulting with BC Wildfire. Public safety and the safety of emergency response personnel are the primary concerns at this time,” RDCO “Emergency Operations Centre staff are working with other response agencies to manage the situation and minimize the impacts, however residents of the area should be prepared to obey an evacuation order if required.” The public is being asked to avoid the Maxwell Road area to allow crews to work. The fire is now estimated at 4.5 hectares in size. Photo: CORD Evacuation alert area near the Jack Creek wildfire. UPDATE 7:30 p.m. The Jack Creek wildfire continues to burn out of control. Helicopters were grounded as darkness fell, but a crew of 10 BCWS firefighters is on the scene and will be working into the night. Fire information officer Shaelee Stearns says two air tankers and multiple helicopters dropped water and retardant on the flames throughout the late afternoon and early evening. The last estimate pegged the wildfire at 2 hectares in size. It is believed to be lightning-caused. UPDATE 6:40 p.m. The Jack Creek wildfire is estimated at 2 hectares in size and is classified as out of control. The BCWS says it’s a visible surface fire with occasional candling and a moderate rate of spread (rank 2-3). “Airtankers and helicopters are responding, and crews are en route,” BCWS said on Twitter.
The #BCWildfire Service is responding to the Jack Creek wildfire (K52317) located approximately 20 kilometres west of #Kelowna. The fire is currently estimated at two hectares in size and classified as Out of Control. pic.twitter.com/sNmRhv4gYp — BC Wildfire Service (@BCGovFireInfo) September 8, 2022 Photo: BCWS UPDATE 6:30 p.m. The fire is not plotted yet on the BCWS dashboard but air traffic shows water bombers and helicopters working in an area between Trepanier Protected Area and the Telemark Club. ORIGINAL 5:55 p.m. The BC Wildfire Service is responding to a new wildfire in the Peachland area. The fire is located approximately 9 kilometres north of the community in the vicinity of the Okanagan Connector. A smoke plume can be seen rising from the area and it is visible from Kelowna and from Highway 97C. BCWS has dispatched air tankers and helicopters to try to knock down the flames. Witnesses say one helicopter was already working the fire at about 5:30 p.m.
