As the Joe Rich wildfire off of Philpott Road and Highway 33 continues to burn, concerned residents watched as homes were evacuated Thursday afternoon.
A Capital News reporter spoke to those living in the area yesterday as they watched the smoke from afar.
Erin Snyder
She discovered on her way home after her shift at Interior Heath that her home was one of the many being evacuated.
鈥淢y husband and kids made it out, but our pets are still there,鈥� she said.
鈥淭hey got some stuff together. We have a trailer and my husband put as much stuff in there as he could. He said he could see flames at the bottom of where we lived.鈥�
Robert Anderson
Anderson had a loaded camper in preparation for an event like this. Unable to reach his home, his wife packed up their possessions as they were told to evacuate.
鈥淲e鈥檙e right off Belgo Creek,鈥� he said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a home so you don鈥檛 about that. It鈥檚 the people and some of the possessions, you have pictures,鈥� he added he asked his wife to grab their passports.
Louise Abbott
Abbott was worried about her horses and was unable to get to them due to the danger.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really close to my house apparently so it鈥檚 definitely not good. My horses are in an enclosed pasture area so they can鈥檛 even get out, so I鈥檓 really worried about them,鈥� she said.
Her significant other was working in Vernon at the time.
鈥淢y friends that are on the same road got their horses out, but they weren鈥檛 allowed to go back in and get mine. I鈥檓 just hoping somehow they can allow us to get back in there to get them because there are tons of horses (in the area),鈥� she said.
Patty Hanson
The Central Okanagan Regional District director also has a home near the area where the wildfire is burning.
She said she has seen fires like this spread quickly in the past.
鈥� I鈥檓 not surprised at all because it鈥檚 so incredibly dry and we don鈥檛 have fire hydrants,鈥� she said.
Hanson said the firefighters have to go farther to find water than in the city due to the lack of hydrants.
@carliberry_
carli.berry@kelownacapnews.com
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