ØAided by record low precipitation in July and August (eg Kelowna - 0.8 mm in August in comparison to the normal of 33.9 mm) ØAided by a build up of fuel on the forest floor (i.e. small trees and underbrush which act as ladders for fires to reach to the tops of older and taller trees) ØOn Friday August 24, aided by 70 km / h winds which helped to move the fire as fast as 100 metres per minute
Friday Night Firestorm
“A Rank 6 [fire] is you
don’t try to put it out.
You run from it.”
-Kelowna Fire Chief
Gerry Zimmermann
(Pemberton and O’Brian)