Wildfire triggers evacuations in Canada’s British Columbia province

A rapidly spreading wildfire in British Columbia’s Okanagan region forced emergency evacuations on July 30, as local officials scrambled to contain the blaze threatening residential areas.

The Drought Hill wildfire, located near the town of Peachland, prompted the Central Okanagan Regional District to activate its Emergency Operations Centre and issue evacuation orders for approximately 400 properties. Before the formal orders were put in place, emergency teams conducted door-to-door “tactical evacuations” to move residents to safety, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media. 

According to the B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS), the fire—believed to be human-caused—was classified as “out of control” and had grown to an estimated 27 hectares (67 acres). 

Tactical evacuations are underway for the Drought Hill #BCwildfire between #Peachland & #WestKelowna. #BCHwy97 & #BCHwy97C are closed. Evacuees: Go to Peachland Community Centre (4450 6th St.) or muster at Royal LePage Place (2760 Cameron Ave). More info & map:… https://t.co/ou0djvP9YD

— Emergency Info BC (@EmergencyInfoBC) July 31, 2025

Provincial wildfire crews were supporting local firefighters in containing the blaze. BCWS deployed 21 firefighters and structural protection personnel to the scene, backed by a range of aerial firefighting resources. These included “land-based airtankers, skimmers, birddogs and three helicopters,” as detailed on the agency’s official website.

“Aircraft will be using Okanagan Lake as a water source throughout the afternoon. We are asking the public and recreators to give these critical resources room to work. People using watercraft should move quickly out of the way of skimmers to allow them the space they need to move safely,” BCWS said in a post on social media.

In an evening update, the wildfire service reported progress in suppressing the flames: “Aircraft retardant and water delivery has been effective at cooling fire behaviour.”

“The fire behaviour has decreased to rank 2 and rank 3, meaning a low to moderate surface fire with open flame, occasional candling and a low to moderate rate of spread,” the update added.

By Sabina Mammadli