A fireboat directs a plume of water Monday as fire scorches a hillside near Peachland, B.C. (CBC)

Residents and visitors who fled a wildfire that threatened an Okanagan resort on Monday have been told they are still not allowed to return to claim their belongings.

Emergency officials broke the news to about 60 evacuees during a meeting at noon PT on Tuesday at the Westbank Lions Hall, which is serving as an emergency evacuation centre.

The 30-hectare fire continued to smoulder near the Seclusion Bay Resort, despite the efforts of about 45 firefighters.

On Monday, 67 evacuees registered at the centre, which is providing food, lodging and clothing to those who had to flee without any possessions.

A nearby section of Highway 97 remained open with a reduced speed through the fire zone, and motorists were reminded to watch for emergency crews working in the area.

A state of emergency declared by the districts of West Kelowna and Peachland remained in effect at the fire site, and the public was asked to stay out of the area to avoid interfering with firefighting operations.

Fire spread rapidly

The fire began around 10 a.m. PT on Monday near the Seclusion Bay Resort between Peachland and Kelowna and quickly spread over 30 hectares within hours, destroying a home and two garages, one police car and one boat.

Dozens of people at the resort were trapped by the flames and had to flee by boat on Okanagan Lake, leaving their possessions behind.

Fire officials said they had contained the fire by Monday evening, and crews worked through the night to keep it contained.

"We had a 17-person unit crew that was on the site overnight, maintaining our containment lines and controlling the perimeter and making sure there wasn't any escapes," said B.C. Forest Service spokesman Jerry Wearing, adding that there would be a "pretty aggressive attack" on the fire Tuesday.

No cause has been determined for the fire but an investigation involving both police and fire officials was underway.

Fire risk grows

Provincial fire information officer Gwen Eamer said that because of the damp spring this year, B.C. has had far fewer wildfires than usual. "The average over eight or nine years is about 780 wildfires up until this point. This year we're at 456," said Eamer.

But although it was a damp spring, people need to realize that fire season is here and extra precautions need to be taken, Eamer added.

"It only takes a few days of warm and dry weather for any sort of moisture, especially in fine fuels in the forest — smaller twigs and leaves and those types of things — to really dissipate. So it's important that people don't assume that just because it has been wet, that it is still."

After a hot spell last week, the fire risk in most of the province is currently rated either extreme, high or moderate. More than 30 fires broke out Sunday and Monday, and there are 18 significant wildfires burning across the province.

West Kelowna Mayor Doug Findlater said landowners should keep their properties fire-smart, clearing up anything that could fuel a fire, and should be ready to leave on a moment's notice.

"It's obvious that we're back into fire season. People should have their grab-and-go bags, so to speak, ready to go."