(UPDATE: July 31 @ 2:50 pm) – The Central Okanagan Emergency Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) has downgraded some properties on evacuation order to an alert.
The EOC issued the update shortly after 2 pm on Thursday, adding that no structural loss has been reported.
The following properties remain on evacuation order:
5140 and 5151 Clarence Road
5031 Lang Court
MacNeil Court
Morrison Crescent
Morrison Court
Morrison Place
All units within the property at 5165 Trepanier Bench Road
Walker Road
The evacuation alert in place for 225 properties remains in effect.
The following properties, which were previously on an evacuation order, will now be on alert:
Property at the north end of Chidley Road (unaddressed)
All of Clarence Road except 5140 and 5151 Clarence Road
Coldham Road
5078, 5089, 5091, 5093 and 5101 Cousins Place
Cousins Road
Desert Pines Avenue
Dryden Road
Greata Road
3599 Highway 97
Huston Road
Inglis Place
Lever Court
Lornell Crescent and Lornell Court
5030, 5070, 5090, 5126, 5145, 5146, 5156, 5166, 5175, 5186 Mackinnon Road and the property at the North end of Mackinnon Road within the District of Peachland (unaddressed)
Point Place
Shaw Road
Smith Way
Sutherland Road
Trepanier Heights Avenue
Trepanier Heights Place
4995 Trepanier Road
Trepanier Bench Road (except units within property at 5165 Trepanier Bench Road)
Witt Place
The full map of evacuations can be viewed on the EOC website.
“Out of an abundance of caution, residents returning home are recommended to inspect their property and trees to assess any issues or damage before re-entry,” the EOC said.
“Property owners should start insurance claims if they suspect wildfire damage and report it as soon as possible to their insurance representative.”
The Drought Hill wildfire remains estimated at 57 hectares and crews continue to action it.
(UPDATE: July 31 @ 1:55 pm) – The Central Okanagan Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) says the West Kelowna reception centre for evacuees will be closing Thursday night.
Anyone who was evacuated due to the Drought Hill wildfire can access Emergency Support Services (ESS) at the Royal LePage Place until 4 pm.
After that, ESS will only be offered at the Peachland Community Centre.
The PCC is open until 9 pm Thursday and will reopen at 9 am on Aug. 1.
The EOC said services can also be accessed online.
No changes have been made to evacuation orders or alerts.
Both Highway 97 and Highway 97C remain open.
(UPDATE: July 31 @ 12:57 pm) – BC Wildfire Service says the Drought Hill wildfire is estimated at 57 hectares.
That size update was provided shortly after noon on Thursday.
(UPDATE: July 31 @ noon) – The Drought Hill wildfire remains estimated at 27 hectares.
However, the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) said the fire remains classified as out of control.
Crews continued working on the fire overnight doing patrols and suppressing hotspots.
There are 35 firefighters responding alongside the Peachland Fire Department on Thursday.
“As temperatures increase throughout the day, fire behaviour will increase,” the BCWS said in a morning update.
“The fire is currently displaying rank 2 fire behaviour, meaning a surface fire with some open flame and a slow to moderate of spread.”
Aircraft will supplement round resources throughout the day and structure protection crews are still responding.
The fire remains between Highway 97 and Highway 97C, both of which reopened overnight and remain open today.
Currently, there are no changes to the evacuation orders or alert this morning.
About 400 properties remain evacuated and another 225 are still on alert.
On Wednesday, seven ESS volunteers from Summerland and five from Penticton were deployed to Peachland to support the staff at the Central Okanagan EOC.
The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen said all volunteers from both the Central and South Okanagan worked late into the night and are back at it on Thursday.
“The Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) is open and supporting Incident Command and Emergency Support Services,” the EOC said in an update provided at 11:45 am.
“An assessment is underway this morning to evaluate the evacuation order area and alerts and an update will be provided later today.”
Emergency Support Services are being provided at Royal LePage Place, 2760 Cameron Avenue in West Kelowna.
The Peachland Community Centre is not providing ESS support but is operating as an informal drop-in location for residents and will be open until 4 pm.
Residents can search their address on the EOC website to check the status of their property.
Although donations from the general public is appreciated, the EOC said it cannot accept donations due to “logistical and safety considerations.”
“Public safety and the safety of emergency response personnel are the primary concerns at this time,” the EOC said, adding that staff are working with other response agencies to manage the situation and minimize impacts for evacuees.
(UPDATE: July 31 @ 5:11 am) - The fire remains out of control at 27 hectares this morning, according to the latest information provided by the BC Wildfire Service.
No smoke is visible early today, however.
The evacuation orders and alert put in place on Wednesday remain in place.
DriveBC also reminded drivers that both Hwy 97 and 97C are open.
(UPDATE: July 30 @ 9:30 pm) - Both highways affected by the Drought Hill wildfire near Peachland have reopened.
The Okanagan Connector (Hwy 97C) is now moving without restrictions, while Hwy 97 is only seeing single-lane alternating traffic at this time.
✅OPEN - #BCHwy97C is open in both directions between #BCHwy5A and #BCHwy97. #OkanaganConnector
— DriveBC (@DriveBC) July 31, 2025
⚠️OPEN - #BCHwy97 has reopened to single lane alternating traffic between Houston Rd and Drought Rd, near the Hwy 97C Junction. Expect heavy delays.
Watch for crews and be aware of… pic.twitter.com/ahtUYFAesx
Around 400 properties remain under an evacuation order after residents were told to leave their homes this afternoon. Another 225 were placed on evacuation alert this evening.
Central Okanagan Emergency Operations said it was standing down for the night in a post on social media around 9 pm, adding that an update was expected mid-morning Thursday.
According to the latest mapping from the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS), the fire is 27 hectares in size.
"An initial attack crew, structure protection personnel and Peachland Fire Department will remain on site overnight," the BCWS explained.
"Aircraft retardant and water delivery was effective at cooling fire behaviour. The fire behaviour has decreased to rank 1 and 2, meaning a low surface fire with some open flame and a slow rate of spread."
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(UPDATE: July 30 @ 8:25 pm) – An additional 225 properties have been issued an evacuation alert.
That includes properties on Coldham Road, Desert Pines Avenue, Dryden Road, Inglis Place, Lever Court, Point Place, Smith Way, Trepanier Heights Avenue, Trepanier Heights Place and Witt Place.
The following addresses have also been placed on evacuation alert:
5006, 5010, 5030, 5050, 5104, 5120 Cousins Road
5126, 5145, 5146, 5156, 5166, 5175, 5186 Mackinnon Road
5180, 5240, 5250, 5260, 5270, 5280, 5290, 5355 Trepanier Bench Road
People on alert are asked to be ready to leave their home at a moment’s notice and be prepared to be away for an extended period of time. That includes packing essentials like medicines and important documents and making arrangements for their pets.
The Central Okanagan Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) said another 400 addresses located east of Trepanier Bench Road, south of Highway 97C and north of Highway 97 remain on evacuation order due to the Drought hill fire.
“The evacuation order will remain in place for approximately 48 hours with emergency personnel reassessing the situation in the morning,” the EOC said. “Emergency responders will remain on scene overnight monitoring conditions.”
Specific address details for both evacuation orders and alerts can be found on the EOC website.
(UPDATE: July 30 @ 6:52 pm) – The Drought Hill wildfire is now estimated at 27 hectares.
That is the latest update provided by the BC Wildfire Service at 6:42 pm.
The BCWS also said that the fire has remained between Highway 97 and Highway 97C.
Ground crews, structure protection and aircraft are responding to the fire.
Beyond that, no new information has become available.
This story will continue to be updated throughout the evening as more details are provided by the Central Okanagan Emergency Operations Centre, RCMP or BC Wildfire Service.
(UPDATE: July 30 @ 4:51 pm) – The BC Wildfire Service says the Drought Hill wildlife is showing fairly aggressive behaviour and, as a result, a large evacuation order has been issued.
In an update, the BCWS said the fire is showing rank three to rank four behaviour, meaning a moderately vigorous surface fire with a moderate to fast rate of spread.
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The Central Okanagan Emergency Operations Centre says the RCMP are carrying out tactical evacuations for about 400 nearby properties.
Evacuation alerts will be ordered “shortly” said the EOC in an update at 4:45 pm.
“Properties east of Trepanier Bench Road, south of Highway 97C and north of Highway 97 are on evacuation order and are asked to prepare to be away from their properties for an extended period of time, make arrangements for pets and pack essential items such as medicines and important documents,” the EOC said.
A map for evacuation orders and alerts can be found here.
Evacuees can temporarily report to Peachland Community Centre, 4450 6th Street, Peachland.
People who are unable to access that spot can attend the muster centre which has been opened at Royal LePage Place, 2760 Cameron Avenue in West Kelowna.
Crews, including airtankers, helicopters and skimmers, are responding to the 12-hectare fire and people are asked to stay off the lake where crews are working.
Highway 97 and the Okanagan Connector remain closed.
A video shared online by a Peachland resident shows some trees candling quite close to homes.
(UPDATE: July 30 @ 4:25 pm) – The BC Wildfire Service says the fire above Peachland is now estimated at 12 hectares.
There are 18 firefighters and three wildfire officers working alongside a group of airtankers, which arrived around 4:15 pm from Abbotsford.
The fire remains out of control.
According to the Okanagan Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), a muster centre has been opened at Royal LePage at 2760 Cameron Avenue in West Kelowna for residents located north of the Highway 97 closure.
“Residents able to travel through to Peachland can gather for the interim at the Peachland Community Centre until more information is available,” the EOC said.
No official evacuation orders or alerts have been issued.
Information may change and residents can find more information here.
Picture shared on social media earlier in the afternoon show a dump truck on fire on the side of the road.
(UPDATE: July 30 @ 3:44 pm) – The Kelowna RCMP are helping the BC Wildfire Service and West Kelowna Fire Department respond to the wildfire burning on Drought Hill above Peachland.
They are also asking the public to stay out of the area, both on the ground and on the lake.
Helicopters and airtankers will be refilling their aircraft on the lake and need a clear path to do so.
“Boaters are asked to be aware and not obstruct the aircraft from accessing the lake in their firefighting efforts,” the RCMP said in a news release.
The last size estimate from the BCWS, which was provided at 2:55 pm, said the fire was five hectares in size.
Peachland fire happening now! Hwy 97 closed. pic.twitter.com/Davd520GXV
— Andie.B 🇨🇦 (@AndreaBuono6) July 30, 2025
(UPDATE: July 30 @ 3:33 pm) – The BC Wildfire Service now estimates the wildfire above Peachland to be fire hectares in size.
Eastbound traffic on the Okanagan Connector (Hwy 97C) remains closed between the highway junction and MacKinnon Road.
Highway 97 down to Peachland remains closed in both directions between Buchanan Rd and Glenrosa Rd.
DriveBC cameras show firefighting crews are on site.
⛔🔥#BCHwy97 - The highway is CLOSED in both directions between #Peachland and the #BCHwy97C junction due to a developing wildfire. #WestKelowna #Kelowna #OkanaganHwy
— DriveBC (@DriveBC) July 30, 2025
The #BCHwy97C eastbound at the junction is also closed. Full closure anticipated for Highway 97C.… pic.twitter.com/JTV8fOIXEU
The Central Okanagan Emergency Operations Centre says it is aware of the fire and the EOC has now been activated.
More information is expected soon from the EOC.
Kamscan, a popular account on X that monitors police and firefighter radios, is reporting that some tactical evacuations are happening in the area of Trepanier Bench Road.
As of 3:30 pm, no official evacuation orders or alerts have been issued.
They are really trying to stop the fire from crossing the connector Tactical evacuations in effect and sounds like the fire crossed the highway .
— Kamscan (@Kamscan) July 30, 2025
(UPDATE: July 30 @ 2:55 pm) – Highway 97 and the Okanagan Connector are now both closed due to the wildfire burning east of Peachland.
The closure on Highway 97 is between Buchanan Rd and Glenrosa Rd for 3.6 km.
The Okanagan Connector is closed between the Hwy 97 junction and MacKinnon Rd for 4.2 km.
DriveBC said the next update will not be available until 6 pm in order to give firefighters space to respond to the fire.
The BC Wildfire Service says the fire is half a hectare in size and burning out of control.
More video from Peachland, BC fire pic.twitter.com/DCgOLAOpwP
— Not PC (@duuby2010) July 30, 2025
@BCGovFireInfo View right now from Peachland, looking at hwy97 and 97C. pic.twitter.com/99SHvH7FMy
— Eriko Sakaki (@erikohanako) July 30, 2025
(Original story: July 30 @ 2:22 pm) – A wildfire has broken out above Peachland Wednesday afternoon.
Smoke became visible from Kelowna around 2:15 pm.
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The BC Wildfire Service is aware of the fire and is reporting it at half hectare in size.
It is located near Drought Hill in Peachland, which is between the Okanagan Connector (Hwy 97C) and Highway 97.
Information is limited at this time, however, KelownaNow has reached out for more facts.
This story will be updated once more is known.
