McDougall Creek Wildfire Information

The McDougall Creek Wildfire in West Kelowna is an ongoing wildfire in the Central Okanagan region of British Columbia that started 10 kilometres north of the City of West Kelowna on August 15, 2023. As the wildfire expanded rapidly, the Mayor of West Kelowna issued a Local State of Emergency on August 16, followed by Provincial and Federal orders to provide support to affected communities. Wildfire management and community support services is led by a centralized Emergency Response Centre (EOC) in the Central Okanagan, which is comprised of local and regional governments, including the City of West Kelowna.

The McDougall Creek Wildfire is the largest wildfire in the history of West Kelowna. Over 10,000 residents in the City were evacuated in phases over three days, in addition to evacuation orders implemented in the neighbouring communities of Westbank First Nation. Additional wildfires caused evacuations in the West Electoral Area of the Central Okanagan Regional District, the District of Lake Country and the City of Kelowna. BC Wildfire Service, together with more than 500 firefighters from municipalities across British Columbia and the U.S., are battling the blaze from the ground and air.

The City of West Kelowna remains deeply grateful to BC Wildfire, the many firefighters, and the RCMP, for putting themselves in harm's way to protect our West Kelowna community. There is an army of people battling the wildfire, and an army of people ensuring the safe return home for our residents. More information about the McDougall Creek Wildfire can be found on cordemergency.ca.

As the Central Okanagan Emergency Operation Centre continues with the Safe Return Home for evacuees in West Kelowna, the City of West Kelowna is providing our community with municipal services, facilities and program updates.

If you are on Evacuation Alert or Evacuation Order, please visit cordemergency.ca for all information.
If you are looking for municipal service information, such as impacts to roads, water and other municipal services, we have provided resources to help you.

Either of the two links below will help to provide our community with information and updates about the wildfire in West Kelowna.

A single point of contact to provide supports and information from a variety of government, non-governmental organizations and agencies.

Central Okanagan Emergency Operations Centre

For those on Evacuation Alert or Order, visit cordemergency.ca for all information.

We are here to help! Click on the box above for information and updates on City Services, Programs and Events.

BC Emergency Support Services (ESS)

Those who are affected by Evacuation Alerts and Orders are strongly advised to pre-register at ess.gov.bc.ca for Emergency Support Services (ESS).

Water Orders and Notices in West Kelowna

It is important to note that our reservoirs had fire around them. The water must be safe and meet the requirements of Interior Health before rescinding any water Orders or Notices. All crews are working extremely diligently to restore water safely for our community, and we thank you for your patience.

The wildfire continues to be away from our water treatment plants and utility crews along with Interior Health continue to monitor compliance and regulate water use in West Kelowna. Should any further changes to our water quality result from continued fire fighting, the City will issue the appropriate water Notices and Orders in any affected areas under the direction of Interior Health.

The Boil Water Notice has been downgraded to a Water Quality Advisory for the Rose Valley-Lakeview Water Service Area; view the full News Release.
The Boil Water Notice has been rescinded for the Sunnyside/Pritchard Service Area; view the full News Release.
The Boil Water Notice has been rescinded for the West Kelowna Estates Service Area; view the full News Release.
Stage 3 Watering Regulations remain in place city-wide.

To view the City of West Kelowna Water Quality Map please click here:

westkelownacity.ca/waterqualitymap

For more information on the types of water-related advisories and the acceptable and non-acceptable uses in each scenario, please visit Interior Health’s Drinking Water For Everyone documents at: Interior Health: Drinking Water for Everyone

Latest news from the City of West Kelowna

Click here to subscribe to City news and alerts

Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2023 - CITY OF WEST KELOWNA COMMUNITY UPDATE: SEPTEMBER 5, 2023
Friday, Sept. 1, 2023 - CITY OF WEST KELOWNA COMMUNITY UPDATE: SEPTEMBER 1, 2023
Friday, Sept. 1, 2023 - Do Not Consume Water Order downgraded to Boil Water Notice for West Kelowna Estates Service Area
Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023 - CITY OF WEST KELOWNA COMMUNITY UPDATE: AUGUST 31, 2023
Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023 - CITY OF WEST KELOWNA COMMUNITY UPDATE: AUGUST 30, 2023
Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023 - CITY OF WEST KELOWNA COMMUNITY UPDATE: AUGUST 29, 2023
Monday, Aug. 28, 2023 - CITY OF WEST KELOWNA COMMUNITY UPDATE: AUGUST 28, 2023
Saturday, Aug. 26, 2023 - CITY OF WEST KELOWNA COMMUNITY UPDATE: AUGUST 26, 2023
Friday, Aug. 25, 2023 - Some City of West Kelowna Recreation Facilities to Re-Open
Friday, Aug. 25, 2023 - CITY OF WEST KELOWNA COMMUNITY UPDATE: AUGUST 25, 2023
Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023 - CITY OF WEST KELOWNA COMMUNITY UPDATE: AUGUST 24, 2023
Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023 - Do Not Consume Order downgraded to Boil Water Notice for Rose Valley-Lakeview Service Area
Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023 - CITY OF WEST KELOWNA COMMUNITY UPDATE: AUGUST 23, 2023
Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023 - Water Regulations in West Kelowna Downgraded to Stage 3 Effective Immediately
Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023 - August 25 Music in the Park cancelled
Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2023 - CITY OF WEST KELOWNA COMMUNITY UPDATE: AUGUST 22, 2023
Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2023 - August 22 Council Meetings Postponed
Monday, Aug. 21, 2023 - CITY OF WEST KELOWNA COMMUNITY UPDATE: AUGUST 21, 2023
Sunday, Aug. 20, 2023 - West Kelowna expresses many thanks to all fighting the McDougall Creek Wildfire in West Kelowna
Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023 - Do Not Consume Water Order issued for Rose Valley and West Kelowna Estates Water Systems; Stage 4 water regulations now in effect
Friday, Aug. 18, 2023 - All Recreation Services Suspended until Further Notice

The Emergency Operation Centre is initiating a recovery plan to help and support those communities most impacted by the McDougall Creek Wildfire including the City of West Kelowna, Westbank First Nation and the Regional District of Central Okanagan Electoral Area West.

Resiliency Centre Open in Westbank Centre

On August 31, 2023, Mayor Gord Milsom together with Westbank First Nation Councillor Andrea Alexander, RDCO Chair Loyal Wooldridge and the McDougall Creek Wildfire Recovery Team opened a Resiliency Centre graciously provided on Westbank First Nation Lands. This new centre, located at 403 – 3031 Louie Drive in the Westbank Centre area, will serve as a single point of contact to provide recovery supports and information from a variety of government, non-government organizations and agencies to help people impacted by the wildfire.

Information about the Resiliency Centre can be found here: rdco.com/resiliency.

ESS moving from Mount Boucherie Secondary School to Westbank Centre

The Emergency Support Services (ESS) Reception Centre is moving from Mount Boucherie Secondary School and will open on September 1,2023 in a new location at 523-3041 Louie Drive. The ESS Reception Centre is for residents on Evacuation Order who are registered and receiving ESS supports.

The Reception Centre is closed during the evenings and will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at 523-3041 Louie Drive on Westbank First Nation Lands. Over the long weekend, on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, the Reception Centre will be open 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

The new location of the ESS Reception Centre is near the newly opened Resiliency Centre to facilitate referrals and supports between the two locations.