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Thursday, August 31, 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 and tomorrow even if there are very few changes to report.
Today, West Kelowna Fire Chief Jason Brolund provided the update below.
“The McDougall Creek Wildfire continues to remain adjacent to the Glenrosa area but the risk of the wildfire spreading did not increase overnight nor through today” says Fire Chief Jason Brolund. “The much needed rainfall is helping along with continued cooler temperatures. Fire fighters continue their planning for fire suppression advancement into the Glenrosa area if conditions do change, but the weather is working in our favour.”
“We’re balancing the safe return home for our residents as quickly and safely as possible while BC Wildfire and fire fighters work hard to get this fire held,” says Brolund. The safe return of evacuees to the most damaged neighbourhoods in our community continues, and and we couldn’t be more grateful to everyone working collaboratively to get our community home safe.”
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 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. 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.
The wildfire continues to be away from our water treatment plants and utility crews along with Interior Health continue to monitor compliance and regulate water use in West Kelowna. Should any further changes to our water quality result from continued fire fighting, the City will issue the appropriate water Notices and Orders in any affected areas under the direction of Interior Health.
To view the City of West Kelowna Water Quality Map please click here:
More information from Interior Health about what a Do Not Consume Order means is here:
NEW! RESILIENCY CENTRE OPEN IN WESTBANK CENTRE
Today, Mayor Gord Milsom together with Westbank First Nation Councillor Andrea Alexander, RDCO Chair Loyal Wooldridge and the McDougall Creek Wildfire Recovery Team opened a Resiliency Centre graciously provided on Westbank First Nation Lands. This new centre, located at 403 – 3031 Louie Drive in the Westbank Centre area, will serve as a single point of contact to provide recovery supports and information from a variety of government, non-government organizations and agencies to help people impacted by the wildfire.
“I’m pleased to see important information and services provided at the Resiliency Centre, and so quickly, to help our West Kelowna residents and the public,” says Mayor Gord Milsom. “On behalf of West Kelowna Council, we are also very grateful to Chief Robert Louie and the Westbank First Nation Council for providing the Resiliency Centre space where many organizations can come together to help our communities,” says Milsom. “Providing extended hours initially will also help those who need access to services outside of typical business hours. The Resiliency Centre will help those affected by the wildfire to recover and rebuild through a collaborative support model and I am extremely grateful for everyone’s efforts,” says Milsom.
Information about the Resiliency Centre can be found here: rdco.com/resiliency.
NEW! ESS MOVING FROM MOUNT BOUCHERIE SECONDARY SCHOOL TO WESTBANK CENTRE
The Emergency Support Services (ESS) Reception Centre is moving from Mount Boucherie Secondary School and will open tomorrow morning (September 1,2023) in a new location at 523-3041 Louie Drive. The ESS Reception Centre is for residents on Evacuation Order who are registered and receiving ESS supports.
The Reception Centre is now closed for the evening and will open tomorrow morning from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at 523-3041 Louie Drive on Westbank First Nation Lands. Over the long weekend, on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, the Reception Centre will be open 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
The new location of the ESS Reception Centre is near the newly openedResiliency Centre to facilitate referrals and supports between the two locations.
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.
NEW! REMINDER FROM THE RDCO: YARD WASTE COLLECTION IS ON HOLD
The Regional District of Central Okanagan (RDCO) is reminding West Kelowna residents that yard waste collection is on hold. The Glenmore Landfill and the Westside Transfer Station cannot currently accept yard waste or clean wood. Please be patient and hold on to these materials until further notice.
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 Friday, Sept. 1, 2023.
For 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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