SHOOT: Incredible picture below the fold of the smoke plumes blowing over water. Also interesting how subtle the effects of Climate Change can be. First beetles accumulate, killing trees and building up piles of firewood, and then the fires come [worsening the global warning trend, and the beetles range].
The Glenrosa fire, which was the first to erupt, had grown to 988 acres, while the Rose Valley Dam fire, which broke out a few kilometers (miles) to the north had grown to 370.5 acres.
The Glenrosa fire was about 40 percent contained, but the canyon terrain of the Rose Valley blaze was hampering ground crew's efforts to build a fire guard, officials said.
Helicopters and aircraft dropped water and fire retardant on flames to back up the more than 200 firefighters working on the ground.
Adding fuel to the fire were trees that have died in recent years because of an infestation of mountain pine beetles.
A third fire burning out of control northwest of Kelowna had grown to 2,099.5 acres. It did not threaten any populated areas but was adding to smoke problems in the area.
About 17,000 people have been told to either leave their homes or be ready to evacuate on a moment's notice if asked by emergency officials.
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