With 27 hectares burned near Peachland, brave crews and water bombers work in unison to fight the Drought Hill fire. Public urged to support and clear Okanagan Lake.
✍️ By Debbie Balfour | WBN News | July 31, 2025 | Click HERE for your FREE Subscription to WBN News and/or to be a Contributor.
The sky over Peachland is alive with the thunder of engines, not from storms, but from heroes flying low over Okanagan Lake. As the Drought Hill wildfire continues its fight against containment, an army of dedicated firefighters on the ground and brave water bomber pilots in the air are giving everything to push back the flames.
At last report, the wildfire burning between Highways 97 and 97C has grown to 27 hectares. Overnight, crews patrolled the fireline, attacking hotspots. Today, 35 BC Wildfire Service firefighters are joined by 14 firefighters from Peachland, Kelowna, and North Westside fire departments. This joint effort is nothing short of extraordinary, showcasing the unity and skill of British Columbia’s emergency response.
Aerial support has been critical. Yesterday, water bombers and retardant drops helped suppress the fire’s behaviour, now classified at rank two—visible flame, but spreading slowly. However, with rising temperatures, that behaviour could shift quickly, and continued aerial support remains essential.
These aircraft depend on clear skies and unobstructed access to Okanagan Lake to refill. Yet, boaters venturing too close to active zones are putting lives and missions at risk. Emergency officials are making a direct plea: stay off the lake near Drought Hill. This is not only about respecting boundaries—it's about ensuring the safety and success of those battling the fire.
As the Emergency Operations Centre supports Incident Command and updates evacuation orders, the priority remains clear: wildfire suppression, field assessments, and protecting life and property.
Let’s take a moment to honour these remarkable men and women. The pilots who dip their aircraft mere feet from the lake’s surface. The ground crews are enduring smoke, heat, and exhaustion. The dispatchers, the support teams, the local fire departments, every one of them standing between us and devastation.
Their courage is not just admirable, it’s lifesaving. So let’s do our part. Avoid the lake near firefighting activity. Follow updates at cordemergency.ca. Respect evacuation alerts. And above all, raise a hand—or a flag—in salute to the heroes protecting Peachland.
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