Evacuees return home after crews contain wildfire in West Kelowna, B.C.
Fire started near Mission Hill winery on Mount Boucherie on Saturday
A grass fire sparked near a West Kelowna winery was contained overnight and evacuees living nearby were able to return home.
The fire, which started on Mount Boucherie near the Mission Hill winery, is about five hectares in size. Crews will be working on hot spots Sunday, but the flames are otherwise out.
An evacuation order for the winery as well as homes on Royal Gala Drive and Gala View Drive was issued Saturday evening, but evacuees were allowed home around 11 p.m.
Fire in West Kelowna near Mission Hill winery. Gusty winds are fanning the flames. Fire fighters are on the scene and attacking it with hoses and water. Police officer on scene tells me there are evacuations on the other side of the hill. <a href="https://t.co/gK9RVAjqrb">pic.twitter.com/gK9RVAjqrb</a>
—@BradyStrachanJason Brolund, fire chief with West Kelowna Fire Rescue, said the evacuation was sudden.
"It was very, very rushed," he said.
"Our staff at the RCMP just went door-to-door, knocking on doors, telling people, 'You have to leave and you have to leave now.'"
On Sunday, Brolund said flames were within 100 metres of homes at one point. The chief said the winery's irrigation system helped stop the fire's spread.
"We're very fortunate," he said. "[The irrigated winery] looks great for the tourists who visit, but also serves a very important purpose for us which is a defensible green space."
Reinforcements called
Firefighters from Peachland and Kelowna helped fight the fire as well. The B.C. Wildfire Service sent 10 of its firefighters and three air tankers to the fire.
Jason Brolund with West Kelowna Fire Rescue said there were no structures damaged and no injuries reported.
The B.C. Wildfire Service said the fire was likely human-caused and whipped up by the wind.
Forest fire below Mission Hill winery in West Kelowna, many homes threatened by carelessness. Let’s not forget it is forest fire season. West Kelowna and Kelowna fire and police resources on the scene <a href="https://t.co/gZxnZ5bmvV">pic.twitter.com/gZxnZ5bmvV</a>
—@benstewartbcOther wildfires
The wildfire came as crews managed to control one of two large wildfires burning in B.C.'s Interior.
One of the fires, burning at Xusum Creek, west of Lillooet, was still out of control at 500 hectares, but crews say it's now 25 per cent contained.
A second, larger wildfire at Allie Lake — 55 kilometres northwest of Kamloops — is still out of control, but hasn't grown much bigger since Friday.
With files from Brady Strachan.