A fast-moving wildfire near Summerland, British Columbia, triggered a state of emergency and evacuation orders for Summerland and nearby areas around Peachland. Officials said the blaze was growing rapidly, with winds pushing embers far ahead of the main fire.
An injured cougar was killed Tuesday, after it hunted down two domestic cats in a south Penticton backyard.
Some B.C. orchardists are warning Okanagan peaches, cherries and apricots could be harder to come by this summer, a byproduct of an early bloom and an April frost.
Osoyoos Lake in British Columbia’s South Okanagan reached its lowest level in nearly 40 years in early March, about 30 cm below typical for that time of year, prompting the Town of Osoyoos to close a powerboat launch to protect shoreline infrastructure.
As of Tuesday, there were 299 wildfires burning in B.C., with 40 evacuation orders affecting approximately 5,724 people (2,862 properties), in addition to 69 evacuation alerts impacting approximately 32,076 people (16,038 properties).
"I've seen some way bigger than that, like a baby lobster."
This is the first breeding record for this species in all of Canada.
Flooding in the B.C. Interior from rapidly melting snowpacks has washed out roads and properties, prompted local states of emergencies, and caused more people to leave their homes in Oliver.
The grandchildren of Annie Kruger remember her lighting an Export A Green cigarette, throwing on her logger's jacket and heading out to set fires near Penticton, B.C. — part of an ancient tradition of using flames to clear brush, renew growth and create natural fireguards.
South Okanagan Similkameen
Observations From Members 
