WEST KELOWNA, B.C. — Cooler weather was expected to help British Columbia crews battling a wildfire that has forced the evacuation of dozens of properties above the northwestern shore of Okanagan Lake.
The Bear Creek wildfire broke out late Sunday evening, near Bear Creek Provincial Park, and within hours the Central Okanagan Regional District ordered the evacuation of 156 properties.
A news release issued by the regional district early Monday morning said no homes were lost overnight, but some sheds or outbuildings may have been damaged about 10 kilometres north of West Kelowna.
About 60 people from the evacuated area had registered at an emergency reception centre in West Kelowna by Monday morning.
The evacuation zone covered the provincial park campground, a subdivision and homes along Bear Creek Road.
Fourteen properties in a second subdivision were under evacuation alert and a section of Westside Road was closed until further notice.
"It's been relatively quiet overnight, the winds certainly died down early (Monday) morning and it's much cooler," said Bruce Smith, the information officer for the Emergency Operations Centre in Kelowna.
Calmer conditions and temperatures down to 14C overnight helped BC Wildfire Service members and crews from several area fire departments as they handled hot spots accessible from the perimeter, he said.
Another Okanagan fire, at the south end of Skaha Lake, about 80 kilometres south of Kelowna, also caused concern late Sunday.
Residents of Okanagan Falls watched as flames edged toward homes in the community of about 2,500, but light winds and showers provided an edge for local firefighters and a wildfire service crew.
The wildfire service said the six hectare blaze had been 50-per-cent contained by dawn.
Fire danger ratings across most of southern British Columbia climbed over the weekend to high, with many pockets in the Okanagan ranked as extreme.
Clouds and showers offered a respite to the heat early Monday, but Environment Canada forecast a return to hot, dry conditions by Tuesday.
