High winds driving Osoyoos, B.C., wildfire closer to neighbourhoods
An evacuation order on the eastern edge of Osoyoos, B.C., was expanded Thursday, as gusty afternoon winds pushed the Nk’Mip Creek fire closer to homes in that community.
Officials with the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen added 164 additional properties to the list, including one belonging to Betty and Kent Drover, who spoke to CTV News as they loaded important belongings into their vehicles.
"It's scary. You work your whole life to build a home and it could go at any moment,” said Betty Drover. “And that's the uncertain part. You don't know what you're coming back to."
Many of the newly evacuated homes are built into hillsides on steep rugged terrain, making firefighting efforts in the area dangerous and challenging.
RDOS officials urged people to take the evacuation order seriously and leave as soon as possible.
“The evacuation for electoral area A has been expanded due to the immediate danger to life safety,” said communications coordinator Erick Thompson. "If things get bad, and you are in immediate danger, someone will knock on the door. And it will likely be RCMP, possibly assisted by search and rescue or the local fire department."
Earlier in the week, the B.C. Wildfire Service estimated the blaze to be about 2,000 hectares in size. Officials say it has grown significantly since then but because of the steep terrain and smoky conditions, they do not have an accurate estimate on how big it is now.
"We're seeing a trend over the past few days which is expected to continue for about the next five days where the wind tends to pick up at about 4 o'clock in the afternoon which is often the hottest part of the day,” said Fire Information Officer Dani McIntosh.
The aggressive and unpredictable fire has evacuating residents on edge – hoping firefighters can keep the flames from reaching their homes.
“They’re continuing to protect properties, and so far they have,” Drover said. “And that’s what we can only hope for.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Western University researchers unlock potential 'cure' for ALS
New research out of London, Ont.'s Western University is shedding light on a potential cure for ALS, in which the targeting of the interaction between two proteins can halt or fully reverse the disease's progression.
Police release 3D images of young child found in an Ontario river two years ago
Police have released a three-dimensional image of a young child whose remains were discovered in the Grand River in Dunnville, Ont. almost two years ago.
B.C. brings in law on name changes on day that child killer's new identity revealed
The BC NDP have tabled legislation aimed at stopping people who have committed certain heinous acts from changing their names.
Kamala Harris drops F-bomb during White House live-stream
U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris used a profanity on Monday while offering advice to young Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders about how to break through barriers.
B.C. man fighting for refund after finding someone living at Whistler vacation rental
Edwin Mostered spent thousands of dollars booking a vacation home in Whistler, B.C., for a group skiing trip earlier this year – or so he thought.
Avs forward Valeri Nichushkin suspended at least six months
Colorado Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin was suspended for at least six months without pay and placed in Stage 3 of the league's player assistance program.
Collapsed Baltimore bridge span comes down with a boom after crews set off chain of explosives
Crews conducted a controlled demolition Monday to break down the largest remaining span of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.
Security video caught admitted serial killer disposing of bodies in Winnipeg garbage bins
Security video caught admitted serial killer Jeremy Skibicki on multiple late-night outings, disposing of body parts in nearby garbage bins and dumpsters in the middle of the night.
Mortgage companies could intensify the next recession, U.S. officials warn
U.S. officials worry the next recession could be intensified by a cascading series of failures in the mortgage industry caused by crashing home prices, frozen financial markets and soaring delinquencies.