Finding the Phoenix

Excerpt from Castanet Newspaper, Kelowna, British Columbia

On Tuesday, August 15, 2023, 6:00 p.m., the McDougall Creek wildfire was identified by the British Columbia Wildfire Service burning at a rapidly accelerating pace ten kilometres north of West Kelowna. At the time of discovery, the fire was listed as less than a hectare (2.47 acres) in size. The cause was unknown and under investigation.

The British Columbia Wildfire Service (BCWS) confronted the fire with an initial team of four ground crew members and accompanying air support, included helicopters and air tankers. Throughout Tuesday evening into Wednesday morning, the team grew to eighteen firefighters, battling to extinguish what was still being described as a small spot fire.

By the time the McDougall Creek wildfire was finally "held" on September 20, 2024, it had grown from less than a hectare to a staggering 13,900 hectares (140 square kilometres), the largest wildfire in the history of West Kelowna.

The BCWS, together with more than 500 firefighters from municipalities across British Columbia and the U.S., were combating the blaze from the ground and air for several weeks.

More than 10,000 residents in the city were evacuated in phases over three days, in addition to evacuation orders implemented in the neighbouring communities of the Westbank First Nation.

 Close to 200 properties were completely destroyed or damaged by this devastating wildfire.

I was there.