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Wednesday, August 30, 2023
STATUS OF McDOUGALL CREEK WILDFIRE IN WEST KELOWNA: REMAINS ‘NOT HELD’
As the Central Okanagan Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) continues to do an outstanding job leading the McDougall Creek Wildfire management, the City of West Kelowna will continue to update the media and public on updates specific to our West Kelowna community. We anticipate issuing a daily news release and Community Updates today through Friday, even if there are very few changes to report.
Today, the City issued a News Release with an update specific to West Kelowna from Fire Chief Jason Brolund. One of the quotes from Chief Brolund is included below. To view today’s News Release please visit: westkelownacity.ca/news.
“Today, we are feeling better about the weather forecast and fire conditions in West Kelowna. However, this wildfire will be an ongoing threat in the Glenrosa area for a while to come. For just how long we cannot predict with active weather. A large amount of wildfire remains just behind our West Kelowna community. The rain last night and in the coming days will help, but it will not put the fire out.”
“I urge the public to remain vigilant and alert today and in the days ahead, always adhering to all Alerts and Orders issued by the EOC. We will continue to take decisive actions to protect the neighbourhoods threatened by the wildfire. Today, we will continue to focus on the safe return of evacuees to the most damaged neighbourhoods in West Kelowna. This is a process I expect to continue until early next week.”
Weather remains a significant factor with wildfire protection and suppression in West Kelowna so please continue to watch for new and changing Evacuation Alerts and Evacuation Orders issued by cordemergency.ca.
West Kelowna is still very much in an active wildfire stage in several areas, particularly in the hills above West Kelowna. Residents in the Glenrosa area will continue to notice very active fire fighting today and over the next few days. Neighbourhoods with significant damage will take longer to return home in an incremental return home plan, and the entire team is grateful to everyone affected for understanding the continued risk.
Safe return home factors include:
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Ensuring that fires are extinguished in your neighbourhood;
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Debris must be out of the way;
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Travel to and from your home must be safe, including wildfire crews no longer requiring access to your neighbourhood;
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Utilities must be safely reinstated, such as power, gas and water; and
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Weather continues to play a significant factor in fire suppression and your safe return home.
A ‘RETURNING HOME INFORMATION GUIDE’ IS AVAILABLE ONLINE
The safe return home for those affected by the wildfire remains everyone’s top priority. The EOC has provided a Returning Home Information Guide to help evacuees plan a safe return.
Please visit cordemergency.ca/resources or contact the EOC public information line at 250-469-8490 (local) or 1-877-569-8490 (toll-free).
THE FOLLOWING WATER ORDERS AND NOTICES REMAIN IN EFFECT IN WEST KELOWNA
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The Do Not Consume Order has been downgraded to a Boil Water Notice for the Rose Valley-Lakeview Service Area.
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The Do Not Consume Order remains in place for the West Kelowna Estates Water System.
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The Boil Water Notice for the Sunnyside/Pritchard Water System remains in place.
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Stage 3 Watering Regulations remain in place city-wide.
It is important to note that our reservoirs had fire around them and the water must be safe and meet the requirements of Interior Health before rescinding any water Orders or Notices. All crews are working extremely diligently to restore water safely for our community, and we thank you for your patience.
To view the City of West Kelowna Water Quality Map please click here:
More information from Interior Health about what a Do Not Consumer Order means is here:
REPAIRING INFRASTRUCTURE (ROADS, UTILITIES, ETC)
Road and street repairs (e.g. melted poles and street signs, damaged roads, debris removal, etc), will take longer to assess and complete in the most significantly impacted areas of West Kelowna. In conjunction with this work, City utility repairs will also be completed (e.g. drainage), along with third-party utility repairs (e.g. gas, hydro, cable, etc). Even if a property has not experienced structure damage or loss, the neighbourhood area must be safe to return. All crews are working as accurately and quickly as possible to help get everyone home.
HOW THE PUBLIC CAN HELP: EXAMPLES OF WILDFIRE RELIEF EFFORTS
Canada is seeing its worst wildfire season on record this year and many in and around our West Kelowna community have asked how to help. Your support can definitely help make a difference.
Just a few of the registered charities that are helping to collect donations for wildfire relief are:
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West Kelowna Professional Firefighter Charitable Society: Central Okanagan Relief Fund - centralokanaganfirerelief.ca
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Central Okanagan Food Bank: BC Wildfires Emergency Food Relief Fund - cofoodbank.com/donate
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Central Okanagan Foundation: 2023 Wildfire Response Fund - centralokanaganfoundation.org
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The Salvation Army British Columbia Division: British Columbia Wildfires -canadahelps.org/en/charities/the-salvation-army-british-columbia-south-division/campaign/british-columbia-wildfires
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Animals Lifeline Emergency Response Team (ALERT): Wildfire Animal Evacuees - canadahelps.org/en/charities/animal-lifeline-emergency-response-team-society/campaign/wild-fire-animal-evacuees
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United Way British Columbia: United for BC Wildfire Recovery Fund - uwbc.ca/campaign/wildfires
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Canadian Red Cross: British Columbia Fires Appeal - donate.redcross.ca
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YMCA of Southern Interior BC: BC Wildfire Evacuee Support - ymcasibc.ca/Donate
There are many other certified organizations and options, too. Local community fundraisers, music festivals and other opportunities are or soon will be underway to help our resilient community.
CITY’S NEXT UPDATE
The next Community Update will be issued on Thursday, August 31, 2023.
For wildfire information regarding City municipal services, facilities and programs, please reach out if we can help:
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Call: 778-797-1234
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