Penticton Fire Chief Larry Watkinson has confirmed that two houses were affected by a fire that lit up a gully in West Bench, with one receiving more significant damage to the roof after an ember landed on it.
香蕉视频直播淥ne of the embers, I guess hot embers, landed on the roof, and it caught fire, and with the dryness that we香蕉视频直播檝e had, obviously it took off pretty good,香蕉视频直播� said Don Lancaster, owner of the home that was hit harder by the fire. 香蕉视频直播淔ire department got on it really quick, but it香蕉视频直播檚 the damage now that they have to tear the roof apart to get underneath and make sure nothing香蕉视频直播檚 gotten into the attic.香蕉视频直播�
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Lancaster, who said he wasn香蕉视频直播檛 initially home during the fire, added that there has also been significant water damage to the home from firefighters dousing the fire, which he said reached around a foot in height.
香蕉视频直播淚t hasn香蕉视频直播檛 really been (a worry), although with the dryness and of course all the fires in B.C., you do sort of take a second look around your own neighbourhood,香蕉视频直播� Lancaster said. 香蕉视频直播淲e realized that those trees that went up and the ones down in front of our houses are all on First Nations land, and we have, through permission from them, there have been a few trees that we香蕉视频直播檝e taken out over the last month or so.
香蕉视频直播淏ut maybe more, now.香蕉视频直播�
He added that he香蕉视频直播檒l likely be taking a closer look at keeping his property clear of dry materials.
香蕉视频直播淲e do that anyways. Especially, like I say, you see what香蕉视频直播檚 going on in B.C. and how dry it is, you try to minimize the problem if it does happen,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淔ortunately, they seem to be pretty well on it.香蕉视频直播�
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The Penticton Fire Department got the call at around 9:15 a.m., and Naramata and Summerland fire departments to fight the fire, with the B.C. Wildfire Service also on the blaze with an initial attack team and helicopter support.
Watkinson said the other house that was affected was the next door house, though it appears there hasn香蕉视频直播檛 been significant damage to that house.
Watkinson described an 香蕉视频直播渆xtraordinary香蕉视频直播� scene at the fire, which came within feet of homes on Westwood Drive.
香蕉视频直播淵ou could imagine a completely dried pine tree that香蕉视频直播檚 150 feet tall, fully involved in fire with wind driven from the north, spreading from tree-to-tree. It香蕉视频直播檚 extraordinary to see, and intimidating to see nonetheless, with homes being licked by the flames of those trees.香蕉视频直播�
Around 40 homes are under a tactical evacuation, according to Watkinson, though the evacuation order only affects Westood Drive at this point.
Firefighters had the blaze effectively under control at 100-per-cent containment, with hopes of sending residents back to their homes within a few hours.
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Currently, crews are largely focused on putting out hot spots in the fire, estimated at a hectare in size.
It香蕉视频直播檚 not clear if and when those whose roofs have been affected by the fires will be able to return to their homes.
香蕉视频直播淥ne of them, for sure, they got quite a bit of damage. But better losing their roof to their house,香蕉视频直播� Watkinson said. 香蕉视频直播淐edar shakes, right, they香蕉视频直播檙e perfect storm for having an ember transplant. With the wind, it picks up, it gets up in the eaves there, it gets underneath the cedar shakes.香蕉视频直播�
Only homes with cedar shingles on the roof were affected by the fire, Watkinson said.
The fire appears to have started near the base of a dry, large pine tree, according to Watkinson, who said there had been some fallen trees nearby that fuelled the fire.
香蕉视频直播淵ou could imagine 150-foot-long pine trees dried out, lying side by side, wind driven fire. It was a massive blaze for a while,香蕉视频直播� Watkinson said.
香蕉视频直播淭he City of Penticton is a FireSmart community, however not everybody participates in that model. Having three large pine trees that are dead on the front of your property on the hillside in wildfire season certainly is not what I would consider FireSmart,香蕉视频直播� he added, referring to the Union of B.C. Municipalities program to mitigate wildfires香蕉视频直播� effects on interface homes.
香蕉视频直播淚t is an extreme fire behaviour when you have that kind of debris lying at the base of your home.香蕉视频直播�
An investigation into the cause of the fire is underway from local fire inspectors, as well as RCMP and provincial inspectors.
Submit your photos, videos and news tips by clicking on the 香蕉视频直播楥ontact香蕉视频直播� tab at the top of the page.
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