(UPDATE: September 14th @ 3:17 p.m.) – The Evacuation Alert for all properties in the Meadow Valley area west of Summerland, BC has been lifted. As the fire is contained but still burning, residents should remain prepared to evacuate if conditions drastically change. 

Darke Lake Provincial Park will remain closed. The Province of BC will be maintaining restrictions to limit access to Crown Land in the backcountry area between Peachland and Summerland.

There is still an area restriction in place for Darke Lake Provincial Park, Meadow Valley and part of Garnet Valley. People can go into those restricted areas only if they are residents or if they have authorization from the BWFS. 

Non-residents are advised to stay out of the area as firefighters will be active for potentially several months. 

(UPDATE: September 10th @ 10:27 a.m.) – The Evacuation Orders, pursuant to the Emergency Program Act, issued September 3rd and

September 4th, 2017 to the Garnet Lake area, located within the Municipality of the District of

Summerland, have been rescinded.

The Evacuation Order for the following properties is hereby rescinded:

• 35888 Garnet Valley Rd.
• 951 Meadow Valley Rd.

Both properties will remain under an Evacuation Alert until further notice.

An Evacuation Order may need to be reissued: however, if that is deemed necessary the

process will re-commence.

(UPDATE: September 9th @ 7:22 a.m.) –Evacuation Alerts rescinded for 306 properties Friday evening.

Evacuation Alerts for 306 properties in Peachland and the RDCO for the Finlay Creek fire are now rescinded.

For more detailed information on the alert, visit the CORD Emergency page.

For information about properties still affected, visit the RDCO Facebook page.

An area restriction remains in effect for all Crown land near the Finlay Creek fire. Recreational activities on this Crown land is currently prohibited in the following specified areas. 

(UPDATE: September 8th @ 4:30 p.m.) – Evacuation alerts affecting 306 properties due to the Finlay Creek wildfire have been lifted in Peachland and the Regional District of Central Okanagan.

Click here for a detailed map of the area that was previously on evacuation alert.

An area restriction for all Crown land in the vicinity of the Finlay Creek fire remains in effect.

(UPDATE: September 4th @ 9:00 p.m.)

The District of Summerland has issued an Evacuation Alert for properties on Garnet Valley Road north of Wildhorse Road.  Properties on Wildhorse Road are also included. The RCMP are issuing the Evacuation Alerts to properties affected door to door. The Evacuation Alert, updated mapping and list of addresses will be posted on the District of Summerland website Tuesday morning.

 This alert affects the following addresses:
24411 Garnet Valley Road
27800 Garnet Valley Road
28999 Garnet Valley Road
24602 Garnet Valley Road
28000 Garnet Valley Road
30600 Garnet Valley Road
25600 Garnet Valley Road
28014 Garnet Valley Road
33000 Garnet Valley Road
25601 Garnet Valley Road
28411 Garnet Valley Road
33048 Garnet Valley Road
26405 Garnet Valley Road
28412 Garnet Valley Road
27006 Garnet Valley Road
28610 Garnet Valley Road
27088 Garnet Valley Road
28804 Garnet Valley Road
27218 Garnet Valley Road
28808 Garnet Valley Road
27413 Garnet Valley Road
28818 Garnet Valley Road
27600 Garnet Valley Road
28996 Garnet Valley Road

25208 Wildhorse Road
25210 Wildhorse Road
25585 Wildhorse Road
25804 Wildhorse Road
25808 Wildhorse Road

At this time, the Evacuation Alert is a precautionary measure. Residents should be taking appropriate measures in the case that fire activity escalates and an evacuation order is necessary.

In the case of an evacuation order, residents may be required to leave quickly and be away for an extended period of time.

Residents with properties affected by the Evacuation Alert should take precautions and be prepared for a possible evacuation. Essential items such as medications, eyeglasses, valuable papers (such as insurance), immediate care
needs for dependants and keepsakes should be gathered. These items should be ready for quick departure. Pets and livestock should be moved to a safe area and preparations made for moving any disabled persons and/or children.

Arrangements should be made for transporting household members in the case of an evacuation order.

Questions regarding the Evacuation Alert can be directed to Summerland’s Fire Information line at 250-486-3765.

Two Meadow Valley properties within the District of Summerland municipal boundaries were evacuated on Sunday,September 3rd

Residents affected by the Evacuation Alert are not required to register however questions can be directed to the Summerland Fire information line at 250-486-3765.

There was no substantial change to the Finlay Creek wildfire today and the BC Wildfire Service continues to actively fortify the area. Increased fire fighting activity will be noticeable in Summerland over the next few days as the BC Wildfire Services continues to bring additional fire fighting resources to the area. Water skimmers are active tonight. It is expected that a large BC Wildfire basecamp will be set up tomorrow at Living Memorial Park which will also increase the presence of the fire protection personnel in the community.

For the story on the fire, click here. 

(UPDATE: September 3rd @ 2:23 p.m.) – Evacuation order due to Finlay Creek wildfire

An evacuation order is in effect for properties in Electoral Area F, for Meadow Valley and Darke Creek areas west of Summerland due to Finlay Creek wildfire. 

Properties in Meadow Valley, Darke Creek and North Fish Lake Rd. areas, west of Summerland BC, are in the process of being evacuated by first responders due to a wildfire.

BC Wildfire Service, RCMP, Penticton Search and Rescue and the Summerland Fire Service are on scene as the evacuation order straddles both the District of Summerland and RDOS borders.

There are 55 properties affected by the Order – one property at 951 Meadow Valley Rd is in the District of Summerland:

For the story on the fire, click here. 

(UPDATE: September 3rd @ 12:07 p.m.) – Another day of hot, dry conditions as the BC Wildfire Service continues to fight the Findlay Creek wildfire, southwest of Peachland.

It says there was substantial growth overnight and the fire is estimated at approximately 1,000-hectares.

As a precaution, the Emergency Operation Centre is expanding the Evacuation Alert to include about 206 additional properties over and above those that were put on Alert last night.

The new properties under Evacuation Alert within the District of Peachland include:

6575 – 7280 Highway 97

4948 – 5079 Elliott Avenue

6421 – 6465 Mack Road

6457 – 6650 Renfrew Road

6470 – 6484 Renfrew Court

4949 – 5061 Princeton Avenue

6487 – 6568 Sherburn Road

6471 – 6485 Stuart Crescent South

6503 – 6551 Ferguson Place

6426 – 6575 Vernon Avenue

6465 – 6590 Bulyea Avenue

Those new properties under Evacuation Alert within the Regional District of Central Okanagan Central Okanagan West Electoral Area include:

Brent Road

Zipzone – upper Princteon Avenue (5875 Brenda Forest Service Road)

Residents in these areas should be prepared to leave their homes on short notice should fire conditions change.  A detailed map is available showing the affected properties is available at www.cordemergency.ca.

(Original Story: September 2nd @ 9:26 p.m.) 

The Emergency Operations Centre has been activated to support BC Wildfire Service crews fighting a wildfire in the Finlay Creek area, southwest of Peachland.

Evacuation alerts have been issued for two areas for a total of over 100 properties along the boundary between the District of Peachland and Regional District of Central Okanagan.

Properties affected by the evacuation alert are on the south of Princeton Avenue and south to the District of Peachland boundary, including:

5247 Inga Street
6400-6493 Keyes Avenue
5357-5495 Pierce Street
5420-5443 Pierce Place
5440-5463 McDougland Road
5155-5379 Princeton Avenue (south side of the road only)

An evacuation alert has also been issued for properties west of Antlers Beach including:

6705-6711 Highway 97
6691-6789 Thorne Road
303-307 Log Chute Drive

A detailed map is available showing affected properties at www.cordemergency.ca.

All properties on evacuation alert should be prepared to leave on short notice should conditions change. Residents in the affected area should be prepared to be away from their homes for an extended period of time, make arrangements for pets and pack essential items such as medicines and important documents. Visit the be prepared page for more information.

The fire is currently estimated at 100 hectares. BC Wildfire Service crews will continue to action the fire overnight. No structures in the area are immediately threatened. New information will be released as soon as it becomes available.

Emergency response personnel request that the public:

Avoid the area so emergency responders can effectively perform their duties
Monitor cordemergency.ca for confirmed information about the situation
Please only CALL 9-1-1 in case of emergency