Hundreds forced out of their homes as Okanagan wildfire rages on in B.C.
An evacuation order remains in effect in Olalla, a community just north of Keremeos, B.C., as a wildfire classified as “out of control” continues to grow, impacting nearby residents.
Sandy Diaz, a resident of the community, stepped out of her home on Friday and was told she could return later in the day, but was forced to stay out for the night, leaving behind her husband, who has dementia, at home alone.
“Who’s making all these rules?” she asked in an interview with CTV News.
“I’m here waiting for a permit. Imagine, a permit that they will issue for me to go home,” she added.
As of Saturday, 547 properties had been ordered to evacuate, including the entire community of Olalla. An additional 1,050 were on alert, including the whole Village of Keremeos.
Other nearby residents also report feeling frustrated and confused, including Kudrat Mundi, who runs a fruit stand on Keremeos Bypass Road.
“It is a little bit concerning,” she said, adding that her business is starting to struggle a bit following the closure of Highway 3A, which passes through both Olalla and Keremeos.
“Business has slowed down an immense amount. It’s actually been kind of creepy how quiet it’s been lately,” she said.
“We have a lot of fruit that’s going to start going bad if we aren’t going to be able to keep selling it,” Mundi added.
She said 18 people work at her store and they're are prepped in case they need to leave at a moment's notice.
According to BC Wildfire, 426 firefighting personnel are on site currently working tirelessly to mitigate the spread. They're being supported by 15 helicopters and 42 pieces of heavy equipment.
The fire remains at 5,903 hectares and its cause is unknown. Part of the challenge in containing the blaze is the terrain, according to Taylor Shantz, an information officer with the BC Wildfire Service.
“Crews are working very hard, but it’s also difficult work and it’s tough to get machines, crews in,” she said, adding that the wind has not whipped up to further fan the flames.
“That’s favourable for us to have our crews working and to be able to put in contingency lines. Anytime you have strong winds, that’s just going to provide more oxygen to the fire and fuel more aggressive behaviour,” Shantz explained.
For Diaz, patience wore thin and she refused to wait any longer to return home, despite the evacuation order. She finally received special permission to care for her husband and was escorted back home by the RCMP.
“Thank you! Thank you very much! Happy ending. I’m going home!” she said before heading back to her property.
However, it's unclear how much longer she'll be able to stay there as the fire moves closer to the community, day by day.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.