Wildfires

Rustad calls on province to declare a state of emergency due to wildfire threats

Aug 18, 2023 | 11:11 AM

VANDERHOOF — BC Conservative Party Leader John Rustad is calling on the province to declare a state of emergency to save homes and businesses from wildfires in Kelowna and West Kelowna.

The Nechako Lakes MLA says it would allow for resources to be marshalled from across B.C.

“I want to express my deepest sympathies to British Columbians affected by the wildfires around Kelowna and West Kelowna.

“I also want to thank local and provincial firefighters who are fighting these fires in difficult conditions; I have fought wildfires on the ground, and I know from experience that it can be challenging and dangerous.

The BC Wildfire Service says the McDougall Creek blaze grew six times its size overnight and has now burnt 68 square kilometres of land, up from 11 yesterday.

Thousands of properties are under evacuation orders as the City of West Kelowna and the Westbank First Nation have declared local states of emergency.