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A satellite image taken before a wildfire sparked in West Kelowna reveals how the fire was primed to grow, according to an expert. The image, provided by satellite imaging company Planet Labs, shows the McDougall Creek wildfire just hours before winds and temperatures fueled the blaze. Mike Flannigan, a professor researching fire weather and climate change, reviewed the image and noted that the direction of the wind indicated the fire was ready to take off. He stated that the fire was already active in the morning, signaling an intense day ahead.

As the fire grew eastward towards West Kelowna, Flannigan tracked its progress. While the infrared satellite imagery he accessed did not provide as much detail as the Planet Labs image, it still showed the fire’s growth. By the evening, the wildfire had expanded to 1,100 hectares and was displaying dangerous fire behavior. A dry cold front brought hot winds that pushed the fire further east into the Okanagan Valley. Flannigan mentioned that the fire was a textbook example of an explosive fire, worsened by drought conditions.

Emergency personnel conducted a tactical evacuation of parts of West Kelowna to ensure public safety. Many homes were damaged or destroyed, and the fire even crossed Okanagan Lake. The province subsequently declared a state of emergency due to the extreme fire weather and threats to people and property. To protect the region, outsiders were urged not to visit, and the use of temporary accommodations in the South Okanagan was temporarily banned.

The fire has burned approximately 11,000 hectares, but cooler temperatures have helped reduce its intensity. Firefighters from across the province are working to extinguish the fire and prevent further damage. As of now, at least 50 structures have been affected, though additional assessments are needed. While the cause of the fire is still under investigation, Flannigan believes that the conditions for extreme fire weather had converged before the fire broke out.

This year’s wildfire season in British Columbia has been particularly devastating, with over 14 million hectares burned across the country. The province has surpassed its record for the most area burned in a single season, totaling more than 1.7 million hectares. Firefighting efforts are ongoing, with thousands of firefighters and aircraft involved. Flannigan expressed concern that the conditions for fire weather could worsen again in the coming days, posing further challenges for firefighters and prolonging the fire season.

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