Peachland in Central Okanagan, British Columbia — Canada’s West Coast (North America)

The Okanagan Mountain Fire of 2003

B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure via Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0), June 15, 2016

1. The Okanagan Mountain Fire of 2003 Marker

Inscription. Directly across Lake Okanagan, on August 16, 2003, lightning struck a tree at Squally Point. The ensuing blaze consumed over 25,000 hectares as it spread to Kelowna, Myra Canyon, and Naramata. More than 33,000 people were evacuated and 238 homes were destroyed or damaged. The Myra Canyon section of the Trans Canada Trail saw 12 historic wooden railway trestles destroyed and 2 steel ones damaged.

Erected by Province of British Columbia.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Disasters. A significant historical date for this entry is August 16, 2003.

Location. 49° 44.38′ N, 119° 45.867′ W. Marker is in Peachland, British Columbia, in Central Okanagan. Marker is on Okanagan Highway (Provincial Highway 97) 0.2 kilometers south of Hardy Street, on the left when traveling south. Marker is in Antler's Beach Regional Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Peachland BC V0H 1X9, Canada. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 1 other marker is within 14 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies. J.M. Robinson (approx. 13.3 kilometers away).

Also see . . .
1. A brief history of the Okanagan Mountain Park fire (YouTube). In 2003, the city of Kelowna was attacked by a ravaging forest fire, the likes of which the province

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hadn’t seen before. This is a brief history of that event and the brave people involved. (Global News, posted June 11, 2019) (Submitted on February 19, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

2. The Okanagan Mountain Park forest fire. Slideshow of the most significant interface wildfire event in B.C. history, which caused $200 million in damage, evacuated 33,000 people and destroyed over 230 homes. (Canadian Broadcasting Corp., posted Sept. 11, 2013) (Submitted on February 19, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

3. 2003 Okanagan Mountain Park fire. Wikipedia entry on the firestorm, which was battled by 60 fire departments, 1,400 armed forces troops and 1,000 forest fire fighters. (Submitted on February 19, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Okanagan Fire image. Click for full size.

Shawn via Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0), August 16, 2003

2. Okanagan Fire

The first evening of the big Okanagan Mountain fire that led to 30,000 evacuations and over 200 destroyed homes.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 19, 2022. It was originally submitted on December 10, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 161 times since then and 11 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on December 10, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 2. submitted on February 19, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. Wide shot of marker and surrounding area in context • Confirmation of GPS coordinates • Can you help?