Planning and preparation are well underway in Peachland in case the Glen Lake wildfire burns closer to the community.
Fire Chief Dennis Craig said they are being fully supported by the regional emergency operations centre and the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS).
“Listening to them and following their recommendations. We have two, five-person structure protection crews triaging homes.”
Crews are canvassing neighbourhoods and putting together defence plans.
Work was completed in the upper Princeton Road area Tuesday (Sep. 20), including McDougald Road, and around the industrial park.
Craig said it’s a good idea for property owners to FireSmart their properties and be ‘ember resilient.’
“I can’t stress that enough. Radiant heat doesn’t burn down homes direct flame contact does.”
Move anything combustible, such as leaves, pine needles, firewood, and patio furniture away from structures, Craig added.
While the Glen Lake fire is six to eight kilometres from Peachland, Craig pointed out it is not a great distance considering what happened with a wildfire in West Kelowna in August.
“McDougall Creek showed us that a fire can spot five kilometers across a body of water.”
Craig added wildfires this year are not necessarily driven by temperatures but by fuel load and topography.
“This is a real risk,” he said. “We are going to continue to plan for the conditions we’ve seen all summer long.”
More information about the Gen Lake wildfire is available on the BCWS website.
READ MORE: Fire crews battling Glen Lake wildfire near Peachland
READ MORE: Sprinkle of snow in the forecast for Okanagan Connector
@GaryBarnes109
gary.barnes@kelownacapnews.com
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