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August 2023: Walroy Lake wildfire devastates Kelowna neighbourhoods

The wildfire destroyed five structures and caused significant damage to the Glenmore Landfill.
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Joanne Zebroff captured this image of the Walroy Lake wildfire in Clifton/McKinley on Aug. 18, 2023. (Facebook)

Driven by high winds the McDougall Creek wildfire jumped across Okanagan Lake the evening of Thursday, Aug. 17 starting a fire in north Kelowna.

As Thursday night turned into the early hours of Friday morning, the situation quickly became a blur for many people.

Just over a month after the Knox Mountain wildfire, many of the same residents were again facing evacuation orders.

The Walroy Lake wildfire, along with the McDougall Creek fire in West Kelowna and the Clarke Creek blaze in Lake Country, was named the Grouse Complex and saw the evacuation of approximately 35,000 people with 30,000 more on alert.

On Aug. 18, the province declared a state of emergency and the wildfire continued to burn out of control.

Flights were cancelled and airspace was restricted at Kelowna International Airport as well.

The Kelowna wildfire destroyed five structures, including three homes, and caused significant damage when it burned into the Glenmore Landfill.

Premier David Eby visited the Okanagan on Aug. 22 and toured fire-devastated areas by helicopter.

On Aug. 25, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also came to the Okanagan, meeting with firefighters, city and regional district officials.

The Walroy Lake fire reached approximately 733 hectares and was finally held by Aug. 24 and evacuated residents were allowed to return home.

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