
Fire that triggered evacuations and shut Kelowna, B.C., airport brought under control
KELOWNA — The BC Wildfire Service says a blaze that shut down Kelowna’s airport and triggered a handful of tactical evacuations has been brought under control.
Police began telling residents to get out on Sunday afternoon and later that night the Regional District of Central Okanagan ordered residents out of homes at seven addresses at risk from the Whelan Creek wildfire.
That evacuation order was downgraded to an alert as of 5 p.m. Monday, and those residents will join people living at more than 100 other addresses being told that they need to be prepared to leave at a moment’s notice.
The airport west of the fire shut down its operations on Sunday due to the blaze, but issued an update Monday saying it had returned to regular operations, although it cautioned that passengers may experience cancellations or delays.