Government News: BC proof of vaccination requirement starts Sep. 13, masks are mandatory in indoor public spaces, and the Government of Canada has made Sep. 30 a federal statutory holiday (National Day of Truth and Reconciliation)
Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA): suggestions for dealing with the stress of natural disasters, as well as free, confidential support and crisis lines available 24/7 offering immediate help
Hi all, there is a new way to get into contact with Emergency Support Services (ESS) if you are affected by wildfire. You can call 1-833-498-3770 to register and access assistance from Emergency Support Services, such as for lodging and food.
A reminder, too, that the ESS reception centre in the Kelowna area is physically located at 1480 Sutherland Ave.
Hey everyone, there have been more evacuation orders and more evacuation alerts overnight for the Mount Law wildfire (between West Kelowna and Peachland). Please check the new information (below) and pass it along to anyone affected.
News Release No. 7 Central Okanagan, B.C. — An additional 18 properties in the Regional District of the Central Okanagan and Peachland have been added to the Evacuation Alert area for the Mount Law Fire.
Properties added to the existing alert area are inclusive of 4740 Trepanier Road (northwest end) to 4980 Trepanier Road (southeast end) and include:
4850 to 4855 MacKinnon Road
4802 to 4995 Trepanier Road
4902 to 4975 Star Place
Residents in the Alert areas are advised to be ready to leave their home at a moment’s notice. They should be prepared to be away from their home for an extended period of time, pre-register with ESS online at ess.gov.bc.ca, make arrangements for pets and pack essential items such as medicines and important documents.
The EOC has also expanded an Evacuation Order onto crown land in the southeast corner of the Mount Law fire. This expansion Order does not include any private property. The Gorman Mill site remains under evacuation alert.
All other Evacuation Alerts and Orders remain in effect. For a map of the affected properties in the Central Okanagan, visit cordemergency.ca/map.
In particular, all major highways into the Thompson/Okanagan are impacted in some way by wildfires. The Ministry says fire conditions are changing quickly, so they cannot guarantee drivers will have advanced notice of any more road closures. In addition, non-essential travel on key roads can get in the way of evacuations.
The Ministry’s update advises that, if you have to travel on Interior highways near wildfires, you should make sure you are prepared for possible delays or closures:
travel with a full tank of gas
bring food and water
carry emergency supplies
You can check out updates on the DriveBC website for the most current road information here.
Hey everyone, new evacuation alerts and evacuation orders have been put into place for the Mount Law wildfire just outside of West Kelowna and Peachland. Check out the information below from Central Okanagan Emergency Operations. There’s also a live map link here, and a link to the latest updates here.
News Release No. 5 Central Okanagan, B.C. — The Mount Law wildfire remains a dynamic and evolving situation. Additional Evacuation Alerts have now been issued for 60 properties, including some within Peachland and the Regional District of the Central Okanagan (RDCO), as follows:
4305 to 4495 Maxwell Road
5039 to 5051 Trepanier Court
4965 to 4975 Venner Court
4715 to 5078 Paradise Valley Drive
4414 to 4690 Trepanier Road
4995 Trepanier Road
4850 to 5090 MacKinnon Road
The Evacuation Order for approximately 460 properties put in place earlier Sunday evening remains in effect and includes:
Residents on Evacuation Order should leave their properties immediately.
Properties that remain on Evacuation Alert include:
All other properties in the Glenrosa neighbourhood
226 properties in the area west of Glen Canyon and Goats Peak, inclusive of 3801 Gellatly Road south (north end) to 300 Seclusion Bay Rd (south end).
Residents in the Alert area are advised to be ready to leave their home at a moment’s notice. They should be prepared to be away from their home for an extended period of time, consider staying with friends or family in another area of the Central Okanagan, make arrangements for pets and pack essential items such as medicines and important documents.
Hey everyone, there’s been changes to the remaining Evacuation Alert and Evacuation Order for the White Rock Lake fire. Check out the info bulletin released (below).
News Release no. 12 Central Okanagan, B.C. – The Regional District of Central Okanagan Emergency Operations Centre has updated the White Rock Lake wildfire Evacuation Orders and Alerts.
Order Rescinded
The Evacuation Order has been rescinded for La Casa Lakeside Resort, Fintry, Upper Fintry and Shalal Road and properties north of and including 6409 Westside Road to La Casa. Residents for these properties may now return home and remain on Evacuation Alert. They must continue to be prepared to leave their homes on short notice should fire conditions change. A detailed map showing the updated Evacuation Order and Alert area is available at www.cordemergency.ca/map.
The new Alert Area includes properties in communities along Westside Road from the south end of Valley of the Sun to north of and including 6409 Westside Road.
Returning residents should be aware electricity was off from Friday evening until BC Hydro was able to restore electrical service yesterday afternoon.
Residents should consider potential food safety, water and sewage disposal issues related to the loss of power during a wildfire. Interior Health has information residents may consider to stay food safe and urge ‘When in doubt, throw it out’. Specific food safety information is available on the Interior Health website:
The Regional District of Central Okanagan has issued Water Quality Advisories for the Upper Fintry-Shalal Rd.-Valley of the Sun and Westshore Estates water systems due to the wildfire. A previous Water Quality Advisory for the Killiney Beach water system remains in place. Visit www.rdco.com/water for details.
Alert Rescinded
The previous Evacuation Alert has been removed for the Westside Road communities from north of Traders Cove to south of 6409 Westside Road. This Alert has also been removed for public lands north of Bear Lake Main and Esperon Creek Forest Service Roads to the western RDCO boundary. Visit www.cordemergency.ca/map for a detailed map.
Evacuation Order Continues, conditions remain unpredictable
The Evacuation Order continues for areas along Westside Road from the northern RDCO boundary to the south end of Valley of the Sun. The Order also includes a mostly rural area of forest service roads outside the boundary of the North Westside Fire Service Area to the west of Westshore Estates and includes public lands within the RDCO boundary north and west of the Valley of the Sun subdivision.
The White Rock Lake wildfire remains classified as out of control by the BC Wildfire Services. […]
Did you know there are a number of things you can do to reduce the risk of losing homes and buildings from wildfire? Through a grant from Columbia Basin Trust, local illustrator Nathan Wilkinson and vocal artist Maddisun worked with Nelson Fire & Rescue Services to create these two short animated films to help spread the message of FireSmart and wildfire safety.
Check out how to “Be FireSmart-Today” in the videos below or on YouTube!
Hey everyone, the Evacuation Order issued for the White Rock Lake Wildfire was expanded over this past weekend. Please review the alert and pass along to those who may be affected!
News Release No. 9 Central Okanagan, B.C. – In light of continued aggressive behavior and unpredictable winds with the White Rock Lake wildfire, the Regional District of Central Okanagan has expanded its Evacuation Order.
Residents from approximately 975 properties previously on Alert along Westside Road are now under Evacuation Order and must leave their homes and campsites immediately. The affected area runs south from Ewings Landing to the south end of La Casa Lakeside Resort. This includes properties in:
Valley of the Sun
Upper Fintry
Shalal Road
Fintry Delta
Fintry Provincial Park
La Casa Lakeside Resort
Residents that require in-person help with food, lodging and Emergency Support Services registration should visit the reception centre at 1480 Sutherland Avenue in Kelowna. The centre is open until 10 tonight and tomorrow from 12 – 8 p.m. Online registration is also available through Emergency Support Services at ess.gov.bc.ca.
Non-residents and those visiting in the Evacuation area should consider safely returning to their communities as ESS services are strained by evacuees across the Province. If you’re vacationing with a travel trailer and are evacuated, temporary parking is available at Jim Lind arena/Royal LePage Place, 2760 Cameron Road in West Kelowna.
The Evacuation Alert area now affects residents living in Westside Road communities and subdivisions south of La Casa Lakeside Resort to north of Traders Cove (intersection of Bear Lake Main Forest Service Road and Westside Road). Those in this area should be prepared to leave their homes with short notice in case fire conditions change. Pre-registration is available with ESS online at ess.gov.bc.ca.
They should also make arrangements in advance for boarding of pets and livestock.
A detailed map is available showing affected properties at cordemergency.ca.
Emergency Operations Centre staff are working with other response agencies to manage the situation and minimize the impacts. RCMP are regularly patrolling the evacuated area and structural firefighting crews are providing fire assistance and patrols.
Westside Road is closed to all traffic south of La Casa. Visit drivebc.ca for road closure details.
Hey everyone, there is a new Evacuation Order issued for the White Rock Lake Wildfire. Please review the alert and pass along to those who may be affected!
News Release No. 8 Central Okanagan, B.C. – A new Evacuation Order is issued for the RDCO Central Okanagan West Electoral Area in response to the White Rock Lake wildfire. Properties from south of Westshore Estates along Westside Road from Killiney Beach including Ewings Landing are now under this extended Evacuation Order and were previously on an Evacuation Alert from August 1. […]
The new Evacuation Order includes 608 properties along Westside Road from 8525 Ewings Landing Road (south end) to 9995 Westside Road (north end), up to the Sugarloaf Forest Service Road turn off. Specific roads affected include:
Attenborough Rd
Beachwood Rd
Blarney Pl
Brant Rd
Elliot Rd
Ewings Landing Rd
Portion of Fintry Estates (parcel at the end of Houghton Rd)
Galway Pl
Hodges Rd
Homer Cres
Houghton Rd
Keithley Rd
Kenyon Rd
Kilarney Pl
Kildare Way
Kilkenny Pl
Killarney Pl
Killarney Way
Killeney Beach
Killeney Pl
Leah Rd
Lester Rd
Marchbank Rd
Moody Cres
Nerie Rd
Sugar Loaf FSR
Udell Rd
Westside Rd (from 8645 to 9995 Westside Rd)
Portions of Westside Rd N
Winchester Dr
Winchester Rd
A detailed map is available showing affected properties at cordemergency.ca. […]
An Emergency Support Services (ESS) reception centre for evacuated residents is located at 1480 Sutherland Ave in Kelowna. ESS volunteers are available, as needed, to help affected Central Okanagan residents. Residents that are evacuated from their homes must report to the reception centre to receive any assistance and lodging. Evacuees can pre-register with ESS online at ess.gov.bc.ca but still need to visit the ESS Reception Centre in order to receive the appropriate supplier forms as specific paperwork is required in order to access these services.
Emergency Operations Centre staff are working with other response agencies to manage the situation and minimize the impacts. RCMP will regularly patrol the evacuated area. Sections of Westside Road through evacuation areas will be closed and residents will not be able to travel north to Vernon. Visit drivebc.ca for road closure details.
Emergency response personnel request that the public:
Avoid the area so emergency responders can effectively perform their duties
Hey everyone, the Evacuation Alert put in place on July 14 in response to the Brenda Creek wildfire has now ended. This includes the area south of Highway 97-C and northwest of Peachland, in the Okanagan. A detailed map is available showing this area at cordemergency.ca.
