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A satellite image taken prior to the McDougall Creek wildfire in West Kelowna reveals the small fire that eventually grew rapidly due to powerful winds and high temperatures. Fire weather expert, Mike Flannigan from Thompson Rivers University, analyzed the satellite image and identified that the wind direction indicated the fire was ready to spread. He stated that the fire was active at 11 a.m., indicating an active day ahead. Flannigan tracked the fire as it grew toward West Kelowna.

The infrared satellite imagery available did not provide detailed information like the satellite image from Planet Labs. By 6 p.m. Thursday, the wildfire had covered 1,100 hectares and reached Rank 5 fire behavior, which is extremely dangerous for firefighting. Later, a dry cold front with strong hot winds pushed the fire further east into the Okanagan Valley.

The McDougall Creek wildfire caused a tactical evacuation in West Kelowna. Thousands of people were displaced as the fire destroyed numerous homes and crossed Okanagan Lake. The fire likely spread north of Kelowna due to burning debris carried by the wind. The extreme fire weather conditions combined with the ongoing drought worsened the situation.

On Friday, the University of British Columbia’s Okanagan campus was evacuated, and the landfill in Kelowna caught fire. As a result, a state of emergency was declared, urging people not to visit the region. The fire’s destructive impact can be seen in satellite images provided by Maxar Technologies, showing extensive burning and damage to forests and nearby communities.

As of Monday, the McDougall Creek wildfire had burned 11,000 hectares, though cooler temperatures and smoky skies reduced the intensity. Firefighters from across the province continue to work tirelessly to extinguish fires and protect urban areas. The fire’s cause is still under investigation, but Flannigan emphasized that the extreme fire weather conditions combined with dryness created an environment that is difficult to extinguish.

This wildfire is part of an already devastating wildfire season in Canada, with over 14 million hectares burned across the country. Furthermore, British Columbia has broken records with over 1.7 million hectares burned in one season. Though fire activity has eased compared to the previous week, thousands of firefighters and aircraft are still battling fires province-wide. More international support is expected soon. Flannigan expressed concern that the favorable conditions for fire weather may return, prolonging the fire season and putting firefighters at risk.

The situation remains ongoing, and efforts to control the wildfire are ongoing.

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