WEST KELOWNA, B.C. - Crews are keeping a close eye on a wildfire near West Kelowna, B.C., after the blaze prompted an evacuation alert for 80 properties near Bear Creek Provincial Park.
The fire was reported late Sunday afternoon and had grown to nearly three hectares within a few hours. Regional district says the fire is 75 per cent contained, although the alert remains in effect.
Air tankers and helicopters dropped fire retardant around the perimeter before dusk and 24 firefighters stayed at the scene through the night to monitor the flames.
Several roads in the area are closed. Boaters have also been asked to keep clear of the area off the shores of Bear Creek park, so air tankers and helicopters can safely pick up water from Okanagan Lake.
Warmer, drier conditions over the weekend pushed the number of active B.C. wildfires to 167, but there's hope that a forecast for cooler, unsettled conditions could bring longer-term relief to the fire-plagued province.
Provincial fire information officer Ryan Turcot says 18 new fires were sparked over the weekend and at least a dozen had been recorded by mid-morning on Monday.
He says the majority of the 1,154 fires recorded since April have been caused by lightning, but adds 393 have been caused by people.
Turcot says flames have scorched 293,684 hectares -- or 2,936-square kilometres -- of bush since the fire season began.
