Whelan Creek Evacuation Alert and Order Updates
Kelowna, B.C. – Due to the Whelan Creek (Rockface) wildfire in the Ellison area, a state of local emergency has been declared, and evacuation alerts and orders have been updated. Please refer to the interactive map on CORDemergency.ca/map where you can search by street address to determine if you are affected.
The following seven addresses remain on evacuation order and residents should expect to be away from their homes overnight.
- 5250 Dead Pine Drive
- 4875 Rockface Road
- 4883 Rockface Road
- 5125 Rockface Road
- 5200 Rockface Road
- 5335 Rockface Road
- 5500 Rockface Road
For in-person support, people who cannot meet their own needs during evacuation should report to the reception/muster centre for assistance and lodging. An Emergency Support Services (ESS) reception/muster centre is set up at Beasley Community Centre, 3450 Woodsdale Road in Lake Country. ESS volunteers will be available until 11 p.m. to help affected residents.
The following 106 addresses are on evacuation alert and residents in the 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, make arrangements for pets and pack essential items such as medicines and important documents.
- 4591-4593 Anderson Road
- All addresses on Batta Forest Services Road
- All addresses on Booth Road
- All addresses Dead Pine Drive except 5250
- 4475 - 6025 Farmers Drive
- All addresses on Langley Court
- All addresses on Monaghan Drive
- 4777, 4780, 4851, 4860, 4862, 4870 on Rockface Road
- All addresses on Sierra Drive
- All addresses on Twin Creek Place
- All addresses on Upper Booth Road
- All addresses on Upper Booth Road North
- 5173 - 5176 Whitetail Road
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO:
- Locate all family members and designate a meeting area outside the evacuation area, should an Evacuation Order be called while separated.
- Pack essential items such as government-issued ID, medications, eyeglasses, valuable papers (e.g. insurance, credit, and mortgage information), immediate care needs for dependents and, if time and space permits, keepsakes for quick departure.
- Prepare to move disabled persons, children and/or neighbours, if assistance is needed.
- Prepare to take pets with you and move livestock to a safe area (if possible).
- Arrange transportation for all your household members. Fill the gas tanks of personal vehicles. If transportation assistance is needed, call 250-469-8590.
- Arrange accommodation for all members of the residence, if possible.
- Wait for an Evacuation Order to be issued before evacuating. Monitor cordermergency.ca for information on evacuation orders and location of Reception Centres.
RCMP are continuing their patrol within the evacuation zones.
Additional resources to Emergency Preparedness information can be found at cordemergency.ca. Central Okanagan Emergency information is also available on Facebook at facebook.com/CORDEmergency and on Twitter at twitter.com/CO_Emerg.
An evaluation of the situation is underway and specific details will be released as they are confirmed. Public safety and the safety of emergency response personnel are the primary concerns at this time.
Emergency Operations Centre staff are working with other response agencies to manage the situation and minimize the impacts, however residents of the area should be prepared to obey an evacuation order.
New information will be released to the public and media as soon as it becomes available.
Emergency response personnel request that the public:
- Avoid the Ellison area so emergency responders can effectively perform their duties
- Please only call 911 in case of emergency
- For up-to-date information on the situation, including a map, and to sign up for e-updates, visit cordemergency.ca.
- Information will also be provided via twitter.com/CO_Emerg and facebook.com/CORDEmergency
- For more information, contact the information line at 250-469-8490 (local) or 1-877-569-8490 (toll-free)
