On July 18, 2009, 3 wildfires broke out around the city of West Kelowna, British Columbia during extremely dry and windy conditions. Over 20,000 people were evacuated as a result of the fires. 9,877 hectares (24,410 acres) of forest was burned along with 4 buildings.[1] All 3 fires were suspected as human caused but the exact ignition source is still unknown.
2009 West Kelowna wildfires
Location
West Kelowna and surrounding area
Statistics
Date(s)
July 18 – August 14, 2009 (2009-07-18 – 2009-08-14)
The Glenrosa Fire started at around 2:30 pm above the Glenrosa subdivision in West Kelowna, British Columbia. The fire quickly exploded due to extremely dry conditions and heavy down slope winds. The fire posed an immediate threat to the entire subdivision, over 4,500 homes were evacuated affecting over 10,000 people. Incredibly, only 4 homes were lost and the fire was quickly contained a few days later after burning 400 hectares (990 acres) acres of forest.[1]
Rose Valley Fireedit
The Rose Valley Fire started at around 7:30 pm, July 18, 2009, behind the Rose Valley subdivision on the east side of West Kelowna. The fire burned aggressively overnight and was estimated at 150 hectares by 9:00 pm, July 19. Over 8,000 people were evacuated but no structures were lost or damaged. Fire activity remained minimal and it was fully contained a few days later. Total area burnt 200 hectares (490 acres).
Terrace Mountain Fireedit
The Terrace Mountain Fire started at around 5:30 pm, July 18, 2009, in the mountains behind Fintry, British Columbia, just north of West Kelowna. The fire was considered to be the least threatening of the 3 fires and burned with minimal suppression efforts for the first 12 hours. Resources on site include 70 firefighters, 4 water-bucketing helicopters, heavy equipment and air tankers. There are no evacuations or alerts at this point although the fire is moving east towards Okanagan lake. Total area burnt 9,877 hectares (24,410 acres).[1]
Timeline of the Terrace Mountain Fireedit
July 18;
The Terrace Mountain Fire started at around 5:30 pm
July 19;
The Terrace Mountain Fire grows to 875 hectares by 9:00 pm.
Dense dry fuels, high temperatures, low humidity and moderate winds contribute to the fires growth.
9:00 am, minimal growth reported overnight, now 30% contained.
9:00 pm, fire grows to 1,300 hectares.
10:00 pm, the fire grows to 1,050 hectares and is 15-20% contained.
July 21;
9:00 am, the fire did not grow overnight. Evacuation alerts are in place for residents in the back country west of Fintry.
July 22;
9:00 am, fire estimated at 2000 hectares.
12:00 pm, 13 people evacuated from Fintry High Farm. 2,200 people along Westside Road communities are now under evacuation alert.
July 23;
5:00 am, extreme fire activity reported.
8:00 am, fire estimated at 4,000 hectares. 2,200 people now on evacuation order.
July 24–31;
9:00 am, rain slows fire growth. Now estimated at 4,400 hectares.
August 1;
The fire is now 90% contained. Fire is still estimated at 4,400 hectares.
A massive flare up on the east flank sends the fire burning towards the lake. 1,200 people are placed on an evacuation order and another 2,500 on evacuation alert.
August 2–13;
8:00 am, the fire is now estimated at 7,000 hectares. 2,700 residents are on evacuation order.
The fire is officially mapped at 7,500 hectares, activity remains minimal.
Cool weather helps with fire suppression efforts. The fire is now 9000 hectares in size and is 75% contained.
August 14;
Heavy rains suppress the Terrace Mountain Fire, final size is 9277 hectares.
west, kelowna, wildfires, this, article, multiple, issues, please, help, improve, discuss, these, issues, talk, page, learn, when, remove, these, template, messages, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, articl. This article has multiple issues Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page Learn how and when to remove these template messages This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources West Kelowna wildfires news newspapers books scholar JSTOR May 2016 Learn how and when to remove this template message This article is written like a story Please help rewrite this article to introduce an encyclopedic style and a neutral point of view May 2016 Learn how and when to remove this template message On July 18 2009 3 wildfires broke out around the city of West Kelowna British Columbia during extremely dry and windy conditions Over 20 000 people were evacuated as a result of the fires 9 877 hectares 24 410 acres of forest was burned along with 4 buildings 1 All 3 fires were suspected as human caused but the exact ignition source is still unknown 2009 West Kelowna wildfiresLocationWest Kelowna and surrounding areaStatisticsDate s July 18 August 14 2009 2009 07 18 2009 08 14 Burned area9 877 hectares 24 410 acres total 1 CauseSuspected human causeLand useParkland RuralBuildings destroyed4 Contents 1 Fires 1 1 Glenrosa Fire 1 2 Rose Valley Fire 1 3 Terrace Mountain Fire 1 3 1 Timeline of the Terrace Mountain Fire 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksFires editGlenrosa Fire edit The Glenrosa Fire started at around 2 30 pm above the Glenrosa subdivision in West Kelowna British Columbia The fire quickly exploded due to extremely dry conditions and heavy down slope winds The fire posed an immediate threat to the entire subdivision over 4 500 homes were evacuated affecting over 10 000 people Incredibly only 4 homes were lost and the fire was quickly contained a few days later after burning 400 hectares 990 acres acres of forest 1 Rose Valley Fire edit The Rose Valley Fire started at around 7 30 pm July 18 2009 behind the Rose Valley subdivision on the east side of West Kelowna The fire burned aggressively overnight and was estimated at 150 hectares by 9 00 pm July 19 Over 8 000 people were evacuated but no structures were lost or damaged Fire activity remained minimal and it was fully contained a few days later Total area burnt 200 hectares 490 acres Terrace Mountain Fire edit The Terrace Mountain Fire started at around 5 30 pm July 18 2009 in the mountains behind Fintry British Columbia just north of West Kelowna The fire was considered to be the least threatening of the 3 fires and burned with minimal suppression efforts for the first 12 hours Resources on site include 70 firefighters 4 water bucketing helicopters heavy equipment and air tankers There are no evacuations or alerts at this point although the fire is moving east towards Okanagan lake Total area burnt 9 877 hectares 24 410 acres 1 Timeline of the Terrace Mountain Fire edit July 18 The Terrace Mountain Fire started at around 5 30 pmJuly 19 The Terrace Mountain Fire grows to 875 hectares by 9 00 pm Dense dry fuels high temperatures low humidity and moderate winds contribute to the fires growth 9 00 am minimal growth reported overnight now 30 contained 9 00 pm fire grows to 1 300 hectares 10 00 pm the fire grows to 1 050 hectares and is 15 20 contained July 21 9 00 am the fire did not grow overnight Evacuation alerts are in place for residents in the back country west of Fintry July 22 9 00 am fire estimated at 2000 hectares 12 00 pm 13 people evacuated from Fintry High Farm 2 200 people along Westside Road communities are now under evacuation alert July 23 5 00 am extreme fire activity reported 8 00 am fire estimated at 4 000 hectares 2 200 people now on evacuation order July 24 31 9 00 am rain slows fire growth Now estimated at 4 400 hectares August 1 The fire is now 90 contained Fire is still estimated at 4 400 hectares A massive flare up on the east flank sends the fire burning towards the lake 1 200 people are placed on an evacuation order and another 2 500 on evacuation alert August 2 13 8 00 am the fire is now estimated at 7 000 hectares 2 700 residents are on evacuation order The fire is officially mapped at 7 500 hectares activity remains minimal Cool weather helps with fire suppression efforts The fire is now 9000 hectares in size and is 75 contained August 14 Heavy rains suppress the Terrace Mountain Fire final size is 9277 hectares See also editList of fires in Canada List of disasters in CanadaReferences edit a b c d Review of the 2009 Fire Season PDF BC Wildfire Ministry of Forests and Range Retrieved 8 May 2016 External links edithttp www westkelownafires com http www firefightingincanada com content view 4793 213 Castanet news reports West Kelowna Wildfires http www castanet net news search glenrosa fire 7 http www castanet net news search glenrosa fire 6 http www castanet net news search glenrosa fire 5 http www castanet net news search terrace mountain fire 3 http www castanet net news search terrace mountain fire 2 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title West Kelowna wildfires amp oldid 1173619664, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
