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Evacuation alerts issued due to 20-hectare wildfire in Penticton

Crews responded to the blaze at around 3:35 p.m.
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A trailer on Penticton Indian Band land on Tuesday, Aug. 6.

UPDATE: 8 p.m.

The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen and Penticton Indian Band have issued additional evacuation alerts for properties near the Westhills area where the Lower Blue Mountain wildfire continues to burn.

BC Wildfire Service says the blaze is still out of control and 20 hectares in size, as of 8:30 p.m.

Properties on Bartlett Drive west of West Bench Drive, Estates Place, Forsyth Drive, Max Lake Road, Ryan Road, Sandstone Crescent, Sandstone Drive, Sandpiper Lane, Tyrone Place and Westwood Drive in RDOS Area F (West Bench) are now on alert. 

Flicker Place, Outma Sqilx'w Place, Sage Road, Sandy Point Place, Speetlim Place, and properties not already on evacuation order on Westhills Drive in the Penticton Indian Band are also now on alert. 

Properties on evacuation order are currently Westhill Crescent, and 669, 671, 673, 677, 681, 691, 703, 785, 803, 813 and 951 Westhills Drive. 

Green Mountain Road has also been closed between Shingle Creek Road and Westhills Drive. 

Residents under evacuation alert are advised to prepare to leave their homes on short notice. 

To prepare, they are advised to pack their essential items including government IDs, medication, important documents, and immediate care needs in one container. 

Pet owners unable to transport their pets are advised to contact the Animal Lifeline Emergency Response Team if ordered to evacuate at 250-809-7152.

UPDATE: 5 p.m.

The Lower Blue Mountain fire located off Westhill Road in Penticton is now an estimated 20 hectares.

It first sparked at around 3:35 p.m. and continues to burn out of control.

The Penticton Indian Band has ordered evacuations for properties on Westhills Crescent, as a result of the blaze.

UPDATE: 4:15 p.m.

BC Wildfire is also responding to the blaze located in the Lower Blue Mountain area of Penticton.

The fire is an estimated five hectares in size and the cause is under investigation.

FortisBC is on scene ensuring the flames do not get close to power lines.

Westhill Road is blocked from Bartlette Road to Green Mountain Road, as crews deal with the blaze. 

Fire crews from Penticton, Summerland, Naramata and Kaleden are on scene.

The West Kelowna Fire Department is also reportedly assisting with efforts.


ORIGINAL (3:35 p.m.)

A trailer fire has produced a black plume of smoke above Penticton Indian Band land on Tuesday, Aug. 6.

Crews responded to the incident in the area of Westhills Cresent at around 3:35 p.m.

The trailer is fully involved and the blaze is starting to move up the hillside.

BC Wildfire Service is calling it the Lower Blue Mountain Fire. It is mapped at 1.5 hectares in size.

Westhills Cresent is currently closed, as a result of the incident.

Penticton Fire Department and crews from the Penticton Indian Band are on scene.

RCMP and BC Ambulance have also responded.

It is unknown at this time if there are any injuries.

More to come.

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Logan Lockhart

About the Author: Logan Lockhart

I joined Black Press Media in 2021 after graduating from a pair of Toronto post-secondary institutions and working as a sports reporter for several different outlets.
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