A wildfire that broke out east of Kelowna on Friday afternoon has forced the evacuation of 141 homes and put another 158 properties on evacuation alert.

The Huckleberry fire in Joe Rich has grown to 80 hectares, says Kayla Pepper with the Kamloops Wildfire Information Centre.

“It’s burning north of Highway 33 and it’s a very fast moving fire and that’s due to the hot and dry conditions in the area as well as some winds that are up to 25 km/hr,” she says. “This is a dynamic situation and it is changing very quickly.”

The Central Okanagan Regional District has issued an evacuation order for all properties on Goudie Road, Jack Pine Road, Prather Road, Trapper Road and Boone Road as well as all homes between the intersection of Goudie and 7650 Highway 33 east.

Residents living on the south side of Highway 33 east from Goudie Road to 8991 Highway 33 east are on an evacuation alert and should be prepared to leave their homes on a moments notice.