West Kelowna wildfire ‘human-caused and accidental’: officials

We now know what caused a fast-moving wildfire in West Kelowna that forced more than 800 people to prepare to evacuate this week.

The early season wildfire that prompted hundreds of evacuations in West Kelowna has been investigated, and officials say it was “human-caused and accidental in nature.”

The Kalamoir Park wildfire sparked on the afternoon of June 16 and quickly started burning out of control. Residents of 357 properties were ordered to evacuate, while another 300 were placed on evacuation alert — meaning their residents should’ve been ready to leave at a moment’s notice. The fire was considered “held” before the end of the day, and evacuees were allowed to return home.

• Related: Hundreds of West Kelowna wildfire evacuees allowed to return home

West Kelowna Fire Rescue Chief Jason Brolund says the fire was likely “a result of an escaped campfire.”

“The RCMP continue to take the lead in identifying those responsible. Campfires are never permitted in regional or West Kelowna parks, with fines of up to $1,000 possible,” he said in a statement.

Brolund said the Kalamoir Park wildfire was an example of “how quickly a fire can grow.”

“Only a small spark can have potentially devastating impacts,” he explained. “The public is urged to be vigilant, be responsible and be extremely cautious with fire, sparks and sources of heat as we move into wildfire season.”

Although all of the evacuation orders and alerts have been lifted, the wildfire is still burning “under control” according to the BC Wildfire Service. Brolund has asked residents and visitors to “keep a safe distance from the neighbourhoods in the wildfire-impacted zone.”