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A wildfire burning out of control east of Kelowna, B.C., prompted a tactical evacuation of 25 properties on Sunday afternoon — a type of evacuation that officials say is used for fires they foresee being able to soon contain.
The fire conditions improved in the afternoon and the Daves Creek wildfire was under control by 8 p.m. Central Okanagan Emergency Operations then announced residents from all properties were allowed to return, but three addresses were placed on evacuation alert.
Regional District of Central Okanagan protective services said the evacuations had started around 1:45 p.m. PT.
The 1.5-hectare fire near Joe Rich and Goudie Road was discovered Sunday and its cause is under investigation, according to B.C. Wildfire Service.
Three helicopters and three initial attack crews were deployed, according to B.C. Wildfire Service. Firefighters and RCMP from local and nearby communities were also deployed, including Joe Rich Fire Rescue.
Tactical evacuation
Mike Walroth, director of protective services for the Regional District of Central Okanagan, who spoke to CBC News Sunday afternoon when the fire was out of control, said that officials had asked some residents to leave the area as part of the tactical evacuation.
“People have been tactically evacuated and are just currently out of their homes until imminent danger is gone,” he said.
“Tactical is the initial evaluation when crews get on site. Fire crews have the authority to remove people from their houses or to ask people to leave without an evacuation order. And [it’s] usually for [emergency] events that we think we’re going to get a handle on … that’s usually all we do.”
During the evacuation, Central Okanagan Emergency Operations asked all evacuees to report to the Kelowna Salvation Army located at 1480 Sutherland Ave., or the Joe Rich Community Hall at 11481 Highway 33 for support.
Highway reopened
A 3.5-kilometre section of Highway 33 between Daves Road and Joe Riche Road had closed due to the fire, but was reopened Sunday evening.
