Vancouver: A wildfire that broke out behind a gas station in North Okanagan, British Columbia on Friday night has led to the evacuation of 15 homes. Evacuation alerts have also been issued for dozens of other properties in the area.
Due to the fire, which had spread to 66 hectares by Saturday morning, the Regional District of North Okanagan issued a warning for residents to avoid the Noble Canyon and Becker Lake areas. Taylor Stewart Shantz, a fire information officer with the B.C. Wildfire Service, stated that the fire spread aggressively, a process worsened by the very dry weather conditions.
Firefighters are currently using helicopters and aircraft to bring the blaze under control. Authorities have requested that boaters avoid nearby lakes this weekend, as the aircraft need to use them to refill with water. Stewart Shantz added that crews are hopeful the situation will improve, with a chance of precipitation expected by Sunday.
