Several British Columbia Mounties are being hailed as heroes for their part for helping evacuate residents ahead of a growing wildfire in B.C.'s Okanagan.

Kelowna RCMP Const. Steve Holmes said three officers had to carry an elderly woman away from her Peachland area home as trees exploded into flames around them.

But Const. Ryan Routley and Auxiliary Const. Greg Barnhard said they're hardly heroes for evacuating the woman they referred to affectionately as "Anne."

"We just did our job," Barnhard told reporters as Routley chimed in: "We did what had to be done."

Routley said that he peeked through Anne's window, and saw her sleeping on the couch as the fire approached her home.

"She was not responsive when I knocked on the door," he said. So he opened the door a crack and called to her to wake up and get going.

"She was a little dazed," Routley said.

A first attempt to evacuate Anne by car was thwarted by heavy smoke and flames blocking the roadway, and the officers were forced to return to the home and head down the slope to the lake, where rescue boats were waiting.

"Every time the terrain got rough, we would lift her and carry her over," Routley said.

Barnhard said that even as the smoke closed in and breathing became difficult, Anne didn't panic.

"She was incredibly easy to deal with. She was perfectly calm," he said.

Both officers said they'd happily accept an invitation to tea with Anne.

In Pictures: Seclusion Bay fire

In all, 37 people were forced to be evacuated from their homes in Seclusion Bay after a grass fire consumed a large area of bush near Peachland between Okanagan Lake and Highway 97, the main route through the area.

Police initially attempted to escort evacuees by land but had to remove people by rescue boat as high winds quickly spread the flames over a large area.

The BC Forestry Service said Tuesday afternoon the fire has been contained at 30 hectares, however, it is still dangerous because it is burning on steep and rocky ground with extremely dry fuel. The agency said an evacuation notice will remain in place until further notice.

More than 45 firefighters from Peachland and West Kelowna, and more than 30 BC Forestry firefighters are working at the fire site, aided by two helicopters.

Crews spent much of Tuesday putting up containment guards on the southern ridge and putting out hot spots.

Sprinklers have been laid out to cool and dampen the fire guard for a 17 metre strip along the edge of the fire near the highway.

The blaze has destroyed one home, two garages, one police car and one boat.

Crews are focusing on taking an aggressive attack concentrating on the southern side of the fire, which is flush with grass and ponderosa pine trees. High winds are expected to be a challenge.

Emergency Social Services volunteers have registered 67 evacuees from the area since the fire began. Food, lodging and clothing are being provided on a personal and direct basis.

Evacuation orders remain in place for the Districts of Peachland and West Kelowna but the order will be reevaluated later in the day.

Peachland Fire Rescue and West Kelowna Fire Rescue have established an investigative team to determine the cause of the fire.

Highway 97 has been reopened through Peachland with a reduced speed limit.

The area near Okanagan Lake is notorious for dangerous swirling winds that build up in the afternoon.

The fire danger rating throughout British Columbia continues to be mostly moderate to high due to recent warm and dry weather.