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A satellite image taken prior to the McDougall Creek wildfire in West Kelowna clearly demonstrates how this small fire quickly grew into a devastating force. The image, provided by satellite imaging company Planet Labs, reveals that the fire was already active and ready to spread due to powerful winds and soaring temperatures. Mike Flannigan, a professor at Thompson Rivers University, analyzed the image and noted that the wind direction indicated that the fire was prepared to expand rapidly.

The wildfire continued to grow eastward towards West Kelowna, as confirmed by infrared satellite imagery available to Flannigan. By Thursday evening, the fire had already reached 1,100 hectares and was displaying Rank 5 fire behavior, which made firefighting extremely dangerous, according to the BC Wildfire Service.

Strong, hot winds resulting from a dry cold front subsequently pushed the fire further east into the Okanagan Valley. However, Planet Labs faced difficulties in capturing the fire’s growth due to orbital delays and copious amounts of smoke emitted by the fire.

Flannigan described the situation as a textbook example of an explosive fire, worsened by drought conditions. As a result, inhabitants of West Kelowna were subjected to a tactical evacuation overnight on Thursday. Numerous homes were destroyed, and the fire even managed to jump Okanagan Lake. Evacuation alerts have been issued for 27,000 people across the province.

The escalating threat prompted the province to declare a state of emergency on Friday. The public has been urged not to visit the region, and temporary accommodations in the South Okanagan, such as hotels and campgrounds, have been closed to visitors.

As of Monday, the McDougall Creek wildfire had already consumed 11,000 hectares of land. While cooler temperatures and smoky skies have reduced the fire’s intensity, a large contingent of firefighters from various regions of the province continue to battle structure fires and defend the urban area from the sprawling fire line that still poses a threat.

At least 50 structures have been damaged or destroyed, according to West Kelowna Fire Chief Jason Brolund, although the full extent of the damage is yet to be assessed.

Flannigan emphasized that all the conditions necessary for extreme fire weather had converged, leading to an unprecedented situation. The devastating wildfire season in British Columbia has contributed to the more than 14 million hectares of land burnt across the country, surpassing the previous record of 1.7 million hectares in a single season.

Though fire activity has somewhat calmed in recent days, 3,500 firefighters and numerous aircraft are still engaged in the ongoing battle. An additional 300 firefighters from Mexico and South Africa are expected to arrive later this week. Flannigan expressed concerns about the potential resurgence of fire weather conditions and the impact it could have on the well-being of the firefighters.

In conclusion, the West Kelowna wildfire serves as a stark reminder that the fire season is far from over, and the need for continued vigilance is paramount.

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