189 buildings destroyed due to wildfires in B.C's Okanagan

The number of properties damaged or completely destroyed in B.C.'s Okanagan wildfires has risen to 189.

Central Okanagan Emergency Operations made the announcement on Monday.

These properties were damaged in the regional district of West Kelowna and Central Okanagan West Electoral Area A.

The devastating McDougall Creek fire is still out of control, West Kelowna Fire Chief Jason Brolund said in a briefing.

Chief Administrative Officer Sally Ginter says the center is contacting all affected homeowners and asking them to recheck their property status online at cordemergency.ca/propertyinfo.

Ginter says they know it will be stressful waiting to hear about the status of the homes.

She added that three properties were damaged in Lake Country, four in Kelowna, 19 in Westbank First Nation, 69 in West Kelowna and 94 in the Regional District of Central Okanagan.

Lake Okanagan Resort is counted as one property, although officials noted that 150 units there were affected.

The BC Wildfire Service says more than 250 firefighters and field staff are working to extinguish the blaze around Lake Okanagan.