Updated 1:15 p.m. Aug. 19, 2020

The wildfire burning near the southeast end of Penticton is now estimated to be 1,400 hectares in size, or 14 square kilometres, and one home has been lost as of Wednesday evening.

The fire is burning in difficult rocky sloped terrain on the east side of Skaha Lake, with limited access points for ground crews and heavy equipment according to BC Wildfire, who stated most of the growth is attributed to overnight winds and the size estimate will change once smoke begins to dissipate and visibility becomes better.

The regional district confirmed one home at 176 Christie Mountain Lane in Heritage Hills south of Penticton was gutted due to the Christie Mountain Fire.

Osoyoos and Oliver firefighters are part of 86 firefighters working with the province and Penticton Fire Department as well as structure protection specialists.

Firefighters were working on the southwest flank of the fire Wednesday afternoon, putting in control lines in to protect homes and infrastructure.

Ground personnel were supported by nine helicopters throughout the day and an incident management team, a specialized and highly trained group who will assume command of all aspects of the incident, is currently mobilizing. They will be arriving over the next day travelling from various areas of the province.

BC Wildfire wants to remind boaters in the Skaha Lake and Okanagan Lake areas to not approach aerial resources that are responding to wildfires.

“This is for the safety of all individuals. Any unsafe activity will lead to the halting of fire response operations.”

The City of Penticton and Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS) held a press conference outside of the regional district offices in Penticton at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Multiple pieces of critical infrastructure including Penticton’s public works yards, the city’s electrical department yards, the south fire hall and a water treatment plant are under the evacuation alert, said Donny Van Dyk, Penticton’s CAO and emergency operations director, noting the city will work to protect those key pieces of infrastructure.

The home of Penticton’s Mayor John Vassilaki is currently under an evacuation alert, and Area D director Ron Obirek is under evacuation order.

“I did connect this morning with Area D director Ron Obirek, he is one of the evacuees,” said Karla Kozakevich, RDOS board chair. “So not only does he represent the area of Heritage Hills, but he has been evacuated with his wife from their home. He is doing well and he has been communicating with his citizens who are all handling the situation extremely well.”

Vassilaki said he not feeling happy at the moment.

“I can tell you that. My wife is concerned. Fifty-one years of history in our family, ’cause that’s how long we’ve been married, is in our home. It will take a lot more than a day to pack it in a truck,” Vassilaki said.

A total of 110 people have registered for emergency support services, but it is unclear if any required lodging at this time. Residents under an evacuation alert are advised to register with Emergency Support Services ess.gov.bc.ca and register as an evacuee at 199 Ellis St. in Penticton.

Should a mass evacuation of over 3,000 residents need to take place, facilities such as the South Okanagan Events Centre and the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre will be utilized, and the city has been in contact with the District of Summerland who have offered facilities for housing evacuees as well. Emergency Social Services has been working on securing hotel rooms in Salmon Arm.

“Should an evacuation order occur we will have the ability to evacuate and put roofs over people. It may not be as close to home as we like, especially with COVID-19 protocols,” Van Dyk said.

Van Dyk added that Interior Health has been proactively monitoring the situation as well, and sharing detailed COVID-19 protocols.

“In addition our staff have built that into a lot of our plans and those are being followed and implemented,” Van Dyk said.

Original story Aug. 19, 9 a.m. 

Thousands of homes are under an evacuation alert and 300 homes are under an evacuation order  as the Christie Mountain wildfire bloomed 1,000 hectares overnight Tuesday south of Penticton.

Crews continue battling the blaze and trying to save homes in the Heritage Hills area near McLean Creek Road where 319 properties were put under an evacuation order around 6 p.m. Tuesday — and 3,669 were put on evacuation alert in the southeast area of Penticton Tuesday night.

The BC Wildfire Service and local fire departments from across the valley are responding with air support and personnel to the wildfire located approximately six kilometres north of Okanagan Falls on the east side of Skaha lake.

The fire’s estimated size jumped over the course eight hours from 10 to 1,000 ha in estimated size by BC Wildfire overnight.

“BC Wildfire Service personnel are on site and are being supported by air tankers. Reports have indicated the fire is an active surface fire with an organized flame front. Fire origin and cause specialists are en route to investigate the cause of the fire,” stated BC Wildfire Tuesday afternoon. 

Updates will be available here:

BC Wildfire air crews are attacking the blaze which has cast a  plume of smoke visible across the Okanagan Valley.

Residents under an evacuation alert are advised to register with Emergency Support Services ess.gov.bc.ca and register as an evacuee at 199 Ellis St. in Penticton.

Homes under evacuation order in the area of Heritage Hills. Image RDOS

More to come…