Downtown Kelowna crane collapse – state of local emergency and evacuation order
News Release No. 1, Kelowna, B.C. – The Central Okanagan Emergency Operations Centre has been activated to support the crane collapse at a building under construction in downtown Kelowna on Bernard Ave between St. Paul and Bertram Streets.
A local State of Emergency has been declared for the City of Kelowna in response to the threat to people and/or property caused by the crane collapse.
An Evacuation Order has been issued for the following addresses:
547 – 612 Bernard Ave
1450 – 1488 Bertram Street
1441 – 1471 St. Paul Street
As an evolving situation, the incident site and its surrounding area remains unsafe and unstable. Road and sidewalk closures, including barricades, are in place to ensure safety. Residents and visitors are to stay out of the area.
Residents will not be allowed to return to their residence or place of work in the area while it is under an active evacuation order.
A state of emergency is an authority measure authorized by the Emergency Program Act. A declaration of a state of local emergency has to be initiated by either a local government bylaw or order and is valid for a period of seven days.
Emergency Operations Centre staff are working with other response agencies to support the incident response and evacuees.
New information will be released as it becomes available.
Emergency response personnel request that the public:
- Avoid the incident area and to respect road/sidewalk closures to allow emergency responders to 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
