Ballooning wildfire prompts evacuation alerts near Kelowna

KELOWNA, B.C. Dozens of people living in southern British Columbia have been forced to leave their homes as winds fan a wildfire nearby.

The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen issued an evacuation order Sunday afternoon for 55 properties west of Summerland as crews fight a fire burning about 30 kilometres southwest of Kelowna.

Residents in more than 300 properties in the nearby Central Okanagan Regional District have been warned that they, too, may have to leave on a moment's notice.

The regional district said there has been “substantial growth” in the fire since it sparked on Saturday.

Strong winds have fanned the flames burning in steep terrain and the wildfire is estimated to be about 10 square kilometres, the BC Wildfire Service said in an update on Sunday.

“The main factors influencing this fire behaviour are terrain, wind speed/direction ... and largely this fire activity and rate of spread is due to how dry the fuels are within this area of the Okanagan,” the service said on its website.

The update noted that the area hasn’t had significant rainfall in more than two months.

Twenty-three firefighters, three helicopters and four pieces of heavy equipment were working to contain the fire on Sunday.

Crews are also fighting a series of wildfires in southeastern B.C. that have forced hundreds of people from their homes and closed campgrounds over

the long weekend.