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A satellite image taken shortly before a wildfire broke out in West Kelowna has shown how the fire was ready to expand, according to wildfire expert Mike Flannigan. The image, provided by satellite imaging company Planet Labs, reflects the McDougall Creek fire shortly before it grew in size due to powerful winds and high temperatures. Flannigan, a professor at Thompson Rivers University, stated that the wind direction in the image indicated that the fire was about to ignite and become active. He tracked the fire’s expansion eastward towards West Kelowna, using available infrared satellite imagery. By the evening of the same day, the wildfire had grown to 1,100 hectares and reached Rank 5 fire behavior, which is considered extremely dangerous.

The fire was further propelled eastward into the Okanagan Valley by dry cold winds. Due to orbital delays and heavy smoke, Planet Labs faced difficulties in capturing images of the fire’s growth. Flannigan attributed the rapid growth and explosiveness of the fire to the textbook conditions of high fire risk combined with a drought. This led to a tactical evacuation in parts of West Kelowna, as thousands of people were displaced and numerous homes were damaged or destroyed.

In response to the escalating threats to people and property, the province declared an official state of emergency. Visitors have been advised to avoid the region, and temporary accommodation for outsiders has been banned. As of August 21, the McDougall Creek fire had burned 11,000 hectares. Although cooler temperatures and smoky skies have lessened the intensity of the fire, firefighters continue to battle to protect structures and the surrounding urban area.

While the investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing, Flannigan emphasized that all the elements for extreme fire weather had converged by Thursday afternoon. The devastating wildfire season in British Columbia and Canada has seen over 14 million hectares of land burned, surpassing previous records. Despite a decrease in fire activity, thousands of firefighters and aircraft remain engaged in fighting wildfires across the province. Flannigan expressed concerns about the potential for fire weather conditions to worsen again, posing continued risks to firefighters and prolonging the fire season.

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