Majority of evacuation orders lifted in B.C.'s Okanagan as wildfire situation improves

UPDATE — Aug. 1, 2025: Number of B.C. wildfires doubles in the last 24 hours

A number of evacuation orders issued in B.C.'s Okanagan region due to a wildfire near Peachland have been lifted, as the community's mayor says conditions appear to be easing. 

"The situation has calmed down," he told CBC's Daybreak South Thursday morning.

"There's much smoke visible, and there's still a few visible hot spots here and there, but fire crews are working on them."

Evacuation orders were issued for around 400 properties in the area on Wednesday, but that number was down to 118 on Thursday, said Brittany Seibert, regional emergency manager with the Central Okanagan Regional District.

The region says properties no longer under an evacuation order will join about 225 properties that are under an evacuation alert, which means residents must be ready to leave their home at a moment's notice, according to the Central Okanagan Regional District.

Van Minsel said the Drought Hill wildfire is on the north side of his hillside community, burning between Peachland and Kelowna.

The fire is covering an area of about 27 hectares, according to the B.C. Wildfire Service's latest measure.

Van Minsel said his understanding is that no structures have been damaged.

The mayor himself was evacuated yesterday.

"I think the fire was around 400 metres from our homes," he said, speaking from his office. 

He noted the main muster centre for evacuees is Royal LePage Place Arena on Cameron Avenue in West Kelowna.

The B.C. Wildfire Service said on Facebook that the fire has shrunk.

"Thanks to the quick and hard work of personnel on the ground and in the air, fire behaviour on the Drought Hill wildfire (K51121) has significantly decreased," said the service late Wednesday night. "Personnel will remain on site overnight to monitor and continue suppression."

There are 35 wildland firefighters responding to the fire, alongside 14 firefighters from Peachland, Kelowna and North Westside fire departments, according to an update from Central Okanagan Emergency Operations shortly before noon on Thursday.

The update said fire behaviour could flare up again on Thursday as temperatures increase throughout the day.

Officials are asking people to stay clear of responders to avoid interfering with the wildfire response.

Highway 97 and Highway 97C have both reopened after sections were shut down due to the fire on Wednesday, but delays on Highway 97 between Buchanan Road and Drought Road are expected.

Sonia Newman of Peachland lives in the evacuation zone and checked in at the Royal LePage Place Arena in West Kelowna on Thursday.

She said she has had to get used to experiencing the increased fire activity in the region.

"We live in the Okanagan. We expect something's going to happen," she said.

She said she found out about the evacuation order after trying and failing to go through the backed-up traffic on Highway 97 and the connector after work on Wednesday.

She stayed the night at her friend's place. It's her second time being evacuated, but the first time she was able to grab a go-bag of clothes and essential items.

"This time, it's a totally different experience," she said. "Because I have nothing. I have absolutely nothing. No clothes, no toothbrush, no nothing."

"It's kind of unsettling, a bit, because, as I say, you have nothing. Evacuation is bad enough, but it's also different if you have the opportunity to pack some of your things, for however long the duration is."

Evacuations difficult during tourist season

Seibert said Thursday morning she's hopeful the situation will improve.

She noted it has been somewhat difficult to find accommodation for evacuees in the summer.

"This is the middle of our high tourist season, so hotel rooms were limited," she said.

She noted the province's emergency support services can also issue "shelter allowances," which provide financial support to people who are able to take evacuees in.

Seibert encouraged residents to register with emergency support services if they need assistance while evacuated and to follow the district's emergency updates online.