Evacuation orders and alerts issued as wildfire burns near Kelowna Airport

KELOWNA — An evacuation order remains in place for several homes at risk from the Whelan Creek wildfire in the Ellison area of Kelowna, which is currently being held at 4.31 hectares.

Late Sunday (July 7), the Regional District of Central Okanagan said residents at seven addresses on Rockface Road and Dead Pine Drive should expect to be away from their homes overnight.

The district also issued an evacuation alert for 106 other addresses. Residents must be prepared to leave at a moment’s notice as the fire burns east of Kelowna International Airport.

The fire was discovered around 3:30 p.m. yesterday afternoon, and the RCMP began conducting tactical evacuations in the area around 5:00 p.m.