(UPDATE: Sept. 18 @ 5:40 pm) - Virtually all of Peachland is now under an evacuation alert.
Central Okanagan Emergency Operations (CORD) has significantly expanded the evacuation alert for the Glen Lake wildfire, which is now measured at 763 hectares.
CORD says windy conditions continue to challenge fire suppression efforts, pushing it east towards the community, and "two tankers have deposited retardant lines to protect infrastructure."
The only areas of Peachland that are not under an evacuation alert are Beach Avenue neighbourhoods and the downtown area.
All areas within the Regional District of Central Okanagan south of the Brenda Mine site, southwest of Hwy 97C (Okanagan Connector) and west of Hwy 97 are included in the alert.
"Anyone in the alert zone must be ready to evacuate at a moment’s notice and be away from their property for an extended period of time," explains CORD.
The only properties under an evacuation order remain the eight recreational properties on Glen Lake Forest Service Road.
Click here to see the most up to date map of evacuation orders and alerts for the Glen Lake wildfire.
(UPDATE: Sept. 18 @ 4:45 pm) – The Glen Lake wildfire is now up to 739 hectares in size.
In an afternoon update, the BC Wildfire Service says their crews are working alongside Peachland Fire Rescue to coordinate response efforts to the fire.
There are six aircraft working on the fire Monday afternoon. There is also one BCWS initial attack crew on site.
Bucketing and structure protection operations are expected to continue throughout the afternoon and into the evening.
As of 4:30 pm, no additional evacuation orders or alerts have been issued for properties in and around Peachland.
Be sure to keep an eye on the Regional District of Central Okanagan and the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen for the latest updates.
(UPDATE: Sept. 18 @ 2:15 pm) - The BC Wildfire Service has confirmed to NowMedia that the Glen Lake wildfire is up to 639 hectares in size as it continues to burn out of control west of Peachland.
With that new size estimate comes the first evacuation alerts from the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen, which have been put in place for parts of Electoral Area F and Electoral Area H.
EVACUATION ALERT – September 18, 2023, 12:00 pm Glen Lake wildfire (K53294)
— RDOS EOC (@EmergMgtRDOS) September 18, 2023
More info: https://t.co/1ARPU2uQqA pic.twitter.com/806gjlz33I
The RDOS says they affect properties along the RDCO-RDOS border from Headwaters Road to Darke Lake Provincial Park, south across Fish Lake Road to the Electrical Power right of way and northwest to Trout Creek Mainline Road.
"An evacuation alert has been issued to prepare you to evacuate your premises or property should it be found necessary," says an RDOS statement.
"Residents will be given as much advance notice as possible prior to evacuation; however, you may receive limited notice due to changing conditions."
The fire's latest estimated size was 445 hectares, but activity has increased this afternoon thanks to strong winds throughout the region.
A plume of smoke has risen above the Okanagan, similar to what was seen on Sunday, as northwesterly winds continue to push the fire southeast.
(UPDATE: Sept. 18 @ 12:40 pm) - Central Okanagan Emergency Operations (CORD) has expanded the evacuation alert for the Glen Lake wildfire, west of Peachland.
According to CORD, the alert has been expanded in anticipation of increased fire behaviour today.
It now includes all areas east of Brenda Forest Service Road, starting at the 1.5 km marker, to Brenda Mines Road, as well as all areas on the boundary of Peachland Forest Service Road between Brenda Mines Road and Glen Lake Forest Service Road.
The alert still expands south to the border between the Regional District of Central Okanagan and the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen.
Also included in the alert is Greata Creek Camp, 4900 Brenda Mines Rd. and 5875 Brenda Mines Rd.
"Anyone in the alert zone must be ready to evacuate at a moment’s notice and be away from their property for an extended period of time," CORD explained.
The evacuation order has not been expanded and remains in place for eight recreational properties on Glen Lake Forest Service Road.
The BC Wildfire Service's latest size estimate for the Glen Lake wildfire is 445 hectares, with that number expected to grow thanks to strong winds today.
It continues to be pushed east by those winds and is now estimated at 8 km west of Peachland, down from 15 km west of the community on Sunday.
You can click this link to see the CORD map of evacuation alerts and orders in connection to the Glen Lake wildfire.
(UPDATE: Sept. 18 @ 9:45 am) - The latest update from the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) this morning shows that the Glen Lake wildfire didn't have any measurable growth overnight.
Cool and calm conditions help keep the wildfire west of Peachland at 445 hectares, but that number is expected to grow by the end of the day.
Environment Canada is calling for northwesterly winds (blowing southeast) of around 30 km/h beginning at 11 am, with gusts up to 60 km/h.
Those winds will continue all day before finally easing off late this evening.
The BCWS continues to respond to the fire in coordination with Peachland Fire and Rescue, along with support from the Regional District of Central Okanagan and surrounding communities.
"The fire had helicopters bucketing throughout the day yesterday and bucketing operations will continue today," the BCWS explained.
"Heavy equipment is working on establishing a guard at the west end of the fire today. Structural protection operation will continue today as well."
The incident management team in charge of the McDougall Creek wildfire has been assigned to Glen Lake as well.
(Original story: Sept. 18 @ 6:15 am) - In just over 24 hours, the suspected human-caused Glen Lake wildfire ballooned to 445 hectares.
That was the latest size estimate from the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) around 8:30 pm Sunday for the fire that was discovered around 6:30 pm a day earlier.
It was fuelled by strong westerly and southwesterly winds on Sunday, which blew consistently between 20-30 km/h with gusts over 40 km/h during the afternoon.
While it began around 15 kilometres west of Peachland, those winds pushed it east towards the community and Hwy 97C.
Unfortunately, more of the same is expected today, as Environment Canada is calling for northwesterly winds around 30 km/h with gusts up to 60 km/h between 11 am and 9 pm.
The BCWS said the fire displayed aggressive behaviour on Sunday, up to rank five at times.
Both ground crews and aerial resources are attacking the blaze and they’re being headed up by the Grouse Complex incident management team that is in place for the nearby McDougall Creek wildfire.
An evacuation order remains in place for eight recreational properties in the vicinity of the fire on Glen Lake Forest Service Road.
Central Okanagan Emergency Operations (CORD) also has an evacuation alert issued for all areas south of Peachland Forest Service Road from the 5 km marker past the Brenda Forest Service Road to the boundary between the RDCO and RDOS.
“While the area is mostly crown land mainly used for recreation, anyone entering the alert zone must be ready to evacuate at a moment’s notice,” explained a notice from CORD on Sunday.
Smoke from the fire was highly visible around the Okanagan and to travellers on Hwy 97C Sunday, which is likely to be the case again today.
