The province of British Columbia in Canada has been declared a state of emergency due to the worst forest fires on record.
Kelowna, the access town to Big White and SilverStar, and home to 150,000 residents is experiencing horrific fire trauma as the McDougall Creek wildfire burns across 110 square kilometres on Lake Okanagan.
In scenes reminiscent of Australia’s devastating 2019/2020 bush fire season, Canada is in the midst of their worst wildfire season on record with over 1000 fires currently burning and over 650 out of control.
Non-essential travel has been restricted to Kelowna where thousands of locals in the fire path have evacuated and over 60 structures destroyed on both sides of the lake including the Lake Okanagan Resort.
Nearby Big White Ski Resort has opened the Happy Valley parking lot for RVs, tent trailers and camping for fire evacuees only. Some of the resorts on-mountain accommodation partners have also made private residences available for evacuees.
