Evacuation order expands near Testalinden Creek wildfire (Video)

A wind-fuelled wildfire in British Columbia’s southern Okanagan has forced authorities to order the evacuation of 27 properties.

Fire Information Officer Heather Rice says the wildfire has moved north over the last 24 hours. “The Testalinden fire is seeing quite an active fire flank on the north end of the fire… This is a result of increasing winds that we’re seeing and experiencing in currently in Oliver and on the mountain side near where the fire is burning.”

Cameron Baughen with the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen says the fire is too close to a couple dozen homes. “We did last night put 102 homes on expanded evacuation alert. Of those 102 homes, 27 homes or properties are now being evacuated as of today due to the fire moving more to the north.”

The fire broke containment on the north side thanks to windy conditions, but the weather will be changing. The winds should calm and maybe switch directions soon, bringing cooler air and precipitation in.

Agencies/Canadajournal