Whelan Creek Wildfire: Evacuation Order Downgraded, Alerts Remains in Place
Kelowna, B.C. – Starting at 6 p.m. tonight, residents residing in the evacuation order will be able to return to their homes. These seven properties will be downgraded to an evacuation alert and the previous addresses on alert will remain in place.
- 5250 Dead Pine Drive
- 4875 Rockface Road
- 4883 Rockface Road
- 5125 Rockface Road
- 5200 Rockface Road
- 5335 Rockface Road
- 5500 Rockface Road
Please refer to the interactive Map | Central Okanagan Emergency Operations to search by street address to determine if you are under an evacuation alert.
The following 113 addresses on evacuation alert 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
- 4475 - 6025 Farmers Drive
- All addresses on Langley Court
- All addresses on Monaghan Drive
- All addresses 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.
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.
What to expect
Out of an abundance of caution, residents returning home are recommended to inspect their property and trees to assess any issues or damage before re-entry.
No structural loss was reported, but property owners should start insurance claims if they suspect wildfire damage and report it as soon as possible to their insurance representative. Other additional information on re-entry can be found here: Recover after a wildfire - Province of British Columbia.
Danger trees
BC Wildfire Service has removed hazardous trees from private property to support firefighter safety during wildfire suppression activities. Additional trees within FortisBC’s right-of-way have been tagged with orange ribbon and under their responsibility for removal. Property owners should assess hazards on their property and take necessary precautions to address potential hazards.
Fire suppression
Fire crews will continue extinguishing hot spots and mopping up in the area. Watch for the movement of personnel and equipment throughout the zone. During mop-up operations, some smoke may still be seen in burned areas.
Emergency Operations Centre personnel, partners and response agencies are continuing to monitor and manage the situation. Residents in the alert area are reminded to be prepared to leave in a moment’s notice in the event of an evacuation order.
Emergency response personnel request that the public:
- Unless you are a resident living in the area, avoid the affected area so emergency responders can perform their work and residents can return to their homes
- Call 911 in case of emergency
- For up-to-date information on the situation, including a map, 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)
Stay informed:
