Kelowna Mounties assist in evacuation efforts as crews fight wildfires
KELOWNA – Mounties in Kelowna, BC, say they are assisting with residential evacuation due to a wildfire on Knox Mountain near Okanagan Lake.
Copl. Judith Bertrand says the cause of the fire is unknown and the number of residents to be evacuated is unclear as the situation continues to unfold.
Bertrand says the area around Knox Mountain is quite densely populated and a popular spot for tourists, and police are assisting firefighters with the evacuation to ensure public safety.
She says the Magic Estates area around the mountain is being evacuated because the wind makes it difficult to predict the direction of the fire.
Bertand says people should avoid the area as firefighting efforts are underway, and warns people in the area not to get too close as smoke rises into the air over Okanagan Lake.
She says the Okanagan faces the prospect of wildfires every summer and it’s important for emergency services to act quickly and coordinate efforts to put out fires safely and quickly.
This report from The Canadian Press was first published on July 1, 2023.
