Residents evacuating east of Kelowna as Daves Creek wildfire burns near Highway 33

British ColumbiaA wildfire burning near Highway 33, just east of Kelowna in the vicinity of Joe Rich and Goudie Road has prompted local officials to ask nearby residents to evacuate.Wildfire fighters, local firefighters and RCMP responded Sunday afternoonCBC News · Posted: Aug 10, 2025 7:47 PM EDT | Last Updated: 3 hours agoEvacuations are underway east of Kelowna due to the Daves Creek wildfire. (B.C. Wildfire Service)A wildfire burning out of control east of Kelowna, B.C. prompted a tactical evacuation on Sunday afternoon — a type of evacuation that officials say is used for fires they foresee being able to soon contain.The 1.5 hectare Dave’s Creek wildfire in the vicinity of Joe Rich and Goudie Road was discovered Sunday and its cause is under investigation, according to B.C. WIldfire Service.The evacuations began around 1:45 p.m. PT, said Mike Walroth, director of protective services for the Regional District of Central Okanagan.The fire conditions were improving, but the blaze was still not under control, Walroth told CBC News at 4:30 p.m.He also said that no evacuation order had been issued, but that officials had still asked some residents to leave the area. “People have been tactically evacuated and are just currently out of their homes until imminent danger is gone,” he said.”Tactical is the initial evaluation when crews get on site. Fire crews have the authority to remove people from their houses or to ask people to leave without an evacuation order. And [it’s] usually for [emergency] events that we think we’re going to get a handle on … that’s usually all we do,” he said.Meanwhile, Central Okanagan Emergency Operations is asking all evacuees to report to the Kelowna Salvation Army located at 1480 Sutherland Ave., or the Joe Rich Community Hall at 11481 Highway 33. Highway closedA 3.5 kilometre section of Highway 33 between Daves Road and Joe Riche Road was closed due to the fire. The most up-to-date informaiton on the highway closure is available on the DriveBC website.Three helicopters and three initial attack crews have been deployed, according to B.C. Wildifre Service. Firefighters and RCMP from local and nearby communities were also deployed, including Joe Rich Fire.