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A satellite image taken before the McDougall Creek wildfire in West Kelowna revealed that the fire was ready to rapidly expand. The image, provided by satellite imaging company Planet Labs, showed the fire just hours before powerful winds and high temperatures fueled its growth. Mike Flannigan, a professor at Thompson Rivers University, analyzed the image and noted that the direction of the wind indicated that the fire was primed to spread. By 6 p.m. on Thursday, the fire had grown to 1,100 hectares and was displaying dangerous fire behavior.

The fire continued to grow eastward toward West Kelowna, driven by hot winds from a dry cold front. The infrared satellite imagery available showed the fire’s growth, but the Planet Labs image provided more detailed information. Despite orbital delays and smoke obstructing their view, Planet Labs was able to track the growth of the fire. Flannigan described the situation as a textbook example of explosive fire, exacerbated by drought conditions.

As a result of the fire, a tactical evacuation was carried out in parts of West Kelowna. Thousands of people were displaced, and a significant number of homes were damaged or destroyed. The fire also crossed Okanagan Lake, spreading to the north of Kelowna. Emergency personnel and residents fought to save homes and put out embers. The extreme fire weather conditions prompted the province to declare a state of emergency.

As of August 21st, the McDougall Creek wildfire had burned 11,000 hectares. Cooler temperatures and smoky skies have reduced the fire’s intensity, but firefighters are still working to extinguish structure fires and protect the urban area. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

The wildfire in West Kelowna is part of a devastating wildfire season in British Columbia and Canada. Over 14 million hectares of land have burned across the country, surpassing the previous record set in 1989. In British Columbia alone, more than 1.7 million hectares have burned. While fire activity has calmed compared to the previous week, firefighters from around the province, as well as international teams, are still engaged in firefighting efforts. There are concerns that fire weather conditions could worsen again in the coming week. The fire season is ongoing, and the well-being of firefighters is a cause for worry.

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