For Peachlanders, these are the heroes of the Law Mountain Fire. .In a neighbourhood below the Okanagan Connector where some homes remain on, or are bordering the current evacuation alert – people watched in the streets Monday as six of these planes made their rounds between Okanagan Lake and the southwest flank of the fire..The planes – Air Tractor AT802 Amphib water skimmers – are each equipped with a 3,000+ litre tank for water and fire-retardant foam..Pilots made several passes and a few hours later, the hillside was reduced to thick smoke..This is where flames were first spotted late Sunday afternoon..Peachlanders watched as prevailing winds quickly whipped a few tufts of smoke to rapidly-candling trees towards West Kelowna Sunday night, where hundreds of people were evacuated..Firefighters – a mix of ground and air crews -– are still tackling this 800 ha blaze, one of nearly 270 active wildfires in the province..Provincial officials are telling people not to visit the Okanagan at this time, so that hotel and campground space can be saved for evacuees..Sudden highway closures are also a factor throughout BC..Kristen Friesen is a journalist /owner of The Peachland Phoenix, an independent, local news website.www.thepeachlandphoenix.com
For Peachlanders, these are the heroes of the Law Mountain Fire. .In a neighbourhood below the Okanagan Connector where some homes remain on, or are bordering the current evacuation alert – people watched in the streets Monday as six of these planes made their rounds between Okanagan Lake and the southwest flank of the fire..The planes – Air Tractor AT802 Amphib water skimmers – are each equipped with a 3,000+ litre tank for water and fire-retardant foam..Pilots made several passes and a few hours later, the hillside was reduced to thick smoke..This is where flames were first spotted late Sunday afternoon..Peachlanders watched as prevailing winds quickly whipped a few tufts of smoke to rapidly-candling trees towards West Kelowna Sunday night, where hundreds of people were evacuated..Firefighters – a mix of ground and air crews -– are still tackling this 800 ha blaze, one of nearly 270 active wildfires in the province..Provincial officials are telling people not to visit the Okanagan at this time, so that hotel and campground space can be saved for evacuees..Sudden highway closures are also a factor throughout BC..Kristen Friesen is a journalist /owner of The Peachland Phoenix, an independent, local news website.www.thepeachlandphoenix.com
