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Officials have determined that a wildfire that prompted evacuation orders in West Kelowna, B.C., earlier this week was caused by a prohibited campfire inside a regional park.
The Kalamoir Park wildfire led to evacuation orders for hundreds of properties after being sparked around 11 a.m. PT on Tuesday.
However, a quick response from firefighters meant those evacuation orders were called down by Tuesday evening, and residents were allowed to return home.
On Friday, officials said an investigation determined the fire was caused by an escaped campfire sparked inside Kalamoir Regional Park, which isn’t allowed under local regulations.
Fire crews are responding to an out-of-control blaze near Kalamoir Regional Park near West Kelowna. The B.C. Wildfire Service says the fire started at 11 a.m. Tuesday and crews are working to contain it. As CBC’s Brady Strachan reports, strong winds have fanned the flames, causing them to grow quickly.
West Kelowna Fire Chief Jason Brolund said the fire was accidental, but police were working to identify the people responsible.
“Campfires are never permitted in our parks,” he said in an interview.
“This fire, however, demonstrates how quickly, under the right conditions, a fire can grow explosively, that only a small spark can have potentially devastating consequences.”
A wildfire burning in West Kelowna has prompted the tactical evacuation of hundreds of homes near Kalamoir Regional Park. As the CBC’s Johna Baylon reports, the local fire chief says the flames spread rapidly and some homes were saved by mere inches.
Brolund said a maximum fine of $1,000 can be levied under regional bylaws, which state that campfires are never allowed within regional or local parks.
“Sadly, I’ve covered fires that were started by things like bear bangers. It can be just so little,” the fire chief said.
In an emailed statement, he said that there isn’t a campfire ban in place for private properties in West Kelowna yet, but those were reviewed on a daily basis in co-ordination with the B.C. Wildfire Service.
Tracey Bennett and her husband had to quickly evacuate from their home in the Lakeview Heights neighbourhood of West Kelowna, B.C., on Tuesday after noticing dense smoke blowing toward them from a fast-spreading wildfire.
Currently, there are no region-wide campfire bans anywhere in B.C., though larger Category 2 and Category 3 fires are prohibited in several parts of the province.
Brolund said Friday that West Kelowna residents may notice lingering smoke from the Kalamoir Park wildfire, and the park remains closed.
The wildfire is considered “under control” by the B.C. Wildfire Service.
Central Okanagan Emergency Management said on Thursday that a state of local emergency declared due to the wildfire has now ended.
Brolund asked for residents to make their homes more fire resilient in what may be a long and difficult wildfire season.
In his statement, he urged anyone who observed fire activity outside designated or expected areas to dial 911 if they’re within city limits.
