Author: Lindsay Peabody

…that we posted last week for the Brenda Creek wildfire just outside of Peachland is still in effect. Updates available on the Central Okanagan Emergency Operations website, and there are resources available online. Be sure to check out the links below.

News Release No. 9 Central Okanagan, B.C. – The Brenda Creek wildfire Evacuation Alert continues within a portion of the Central Okanagan West Electoral Area of the Regional District of Central Okanagan.

The Alert affects approximately 18 properties, three recreational campsites and Crown land in the RDCO electoral area south of Highway 97-C and northwest of Peachland.  An online map showing the Alert area  is available at cordemergency.ca/map.  This area is also affected by a BC Wildfire Area Restriction Order.

The BC Wildfire Service says the blaze remains out of control and is approximately 450 hectares in size exhibiting less vigorous behavior yesterday and overnight.

Today it has 40 firefighters and 11 pieces of heavy equipment on the ground along with two helicopters working the fire from the air.

Supporting BC Wildfire’s attack are 14 structural firefighters and equipment from Kelowna, West Kelowna, Peachland and North Westside departments.  They continue monitoring the BC Hydro transmission line corridor through the fire area, extinguishing hot spots and doing fire mitigation around power poles.

BC Hydro continues to actively monitor its transmission line and infrastructure through the Brenda Creek wildfire area. Crews remain on standby and ready to respond at a moment’s notice.

Customers are encouraged to learn more about preparing for any potential electricity outage by visiting BC Hydro’s website:

• Preparing for a power outage – www.bchydro.com/safety-outages/power-outages/prepare-for-outages.html
• What to do during a power outage – www.bchydro.com/safety-outages/power-outages/during-an-outage.html
• What to do after your power is restored – www.bchydro.com/safety-outages/power-outages/during-an-outage.html#after

Prepared BC and Interior Health also provide helpful online preparation, health and mental health information and resources for anyone affected by the ongoing wildfire.

• Get Prepared for a Power Outage – https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/emergency-preparedness-response-recovery/preparedbc/know-your-hazards/power-outages
• Mental Health and Stress – https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/emergency-preparedness-response-recovery/preparedbc/natural-disaster-health
• Your Health during a wildfire – https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/emergency-preparedness-response-recovery/preparedbc/know-your-hazards/wildfires/during-wildfire/your-health-during-a-wildfire
• Preparing for a wildfire/Air-Smoke resources – https://www.interiorhealth.ca/YourEnvironment/Emergency/Wildfires/Pages/default.aspx

Interior Health has food safety information online to assist residents and businesses that could be impacted by any disruption in electrical service:

• https://www.interiorhealth.ca/YourEnvironment/Emergency/Wildfires/Documents/After%20Fire-Power%20Outages%20at%20Food%20Facilities.pdf

The next update from the Central Okanagan Emergency Operations Centre is anticipated at 12 p.m. Tuesday.  In the meantime, the EOC remains ready to respond to any change in fire conditions as it supports first responders on the Brenda Creek wildfire.

All Central Okanagan residents are reminded that they should know the risks of potential emergencies, make a plan and prepare grab and go kits in the event they are required to leave their homes for at least 72 hours.

The Central Okanagan Emergency Operations website cordemergency.ca Be Prepared page is a centralized location for regional public emergency and preparedness information, including links to useful provincial and federal emergency resources such as PreparedBC, BC Wildfire Services, Emergency Management BC and Air Quality readings.

Be sure to sign-up for e-updates to receive timely updates directly to your inbox about emergency incidents. The Central Okanagan Emergency Operation Centre also provides information on Facebook at facebook.com/CORDEmergency and Twitter at twitter.com/CO_Emerg.