The wildfire that has been spewing smoke and threatening hundreds of properties in the Oliver area has not stopped local businesses from carrying on as usual.
The Eagle Bluff blaze, estimated at nearly 2,300 hectares on Friday (Aug. 9), is highly visible from Highway 97 and surrounding wineries and fruit stands. But despite its proximity, the fire has not put a damper on local businesses.
River Stone Estate Winery has a clear view of the action, and while they are under evacuation alert, they have been open to visitors as usual.
"I know that the pictures that are out at nighttime are a little bit daunting, but if you were to see it during the daytime, it's much less dramatic," said Julie Planiden, assistant manager at River Stone.
"Speaking to some of the hoteliers, they are still seeing people coming to town, they're not cancelling their reservations," she added. "There's lots of people out on the golf courses, and floating the river, and enjoying the South Okanagan."
Highway 97 between Vaseux Lake and Oliver has been under a strict 50 km/hour speed limit this week, and highway crews have put up signs indicating "No Stopping" in the area. That zone encompasses several fruit stands, including Bighorn Fruit Stand, which has operated just north of Oliver for nearly 30 years.
The wildfire is right in their backyard, and water-bearing helicopters have been flying overhead constantly all week, but they haven't seen a decrease in customers.
"It's still been pretty steady. I noticed a couple days ago that a lot of traffic was stopping, the roadworks guys actually started to put up signs saying don't stop anymore," said Corey Seddon, whose grandparents own the business. "But as far as sales, it's still going pretty good."
A group of tourists tasting wine at Jackson Triggs Friday morning were equally unconcerned about the fire.
"When we drove by on Monday, when we first arrived, we realized there was a fire that had started the night before," said Marie-Eude Gagnon, visiting from Alberta with her family from Quebec. "No big deal, there's been fires here before. Obviously they've been working on it, with helicopters and everything, so we're not really feeling threatened or anything."
- Chelsea Powrie, Castanet
