White Rock Lake Wildfire update

White Rock Lake Wildfire

News release No. 37 — Central Okanagan, B.C. — BC Wildfire Service says that the White Rock Lake Wildfire remains active and out of control with an estimated size of 80,951 hectares.

The Evacuation Order for 1,316 properties and Alert for 850 properties, in the North Westside community within the Regional District of the Central Okanagan, remains unchanged. Residents can visit cordemergency.ca/map to determine if their property is on Order or Alert.

Crews have confirmed that the wildfire has directly impacted 78 properties to date.

Communities that have incurred damage, which remain on Evacuation Order, include:

  • Killiney Beach
  • Estamont Beach
  • Beau Park area within the Regional District of Central Okanagan

Communities with no reports of major structural damage, which remain on Evacuation Order, include:

  • Westshore Estates
  • Wainman Cove
  • Ewings Landing
  • Valley of the Sun
  • Fintry North

At this time, the Emergency Operations Centre has reached out to most Central Okanagan residents whose properties have sustained significant structural damage. Property assessment work is ongoing as conditions allow, and is subject to change as crews gain further access to affected areas.

Residents under an Evacuation Order or Alert must register with Emergency Support Services even if they do not require support with accommodations. Registration ensures residents can be contacted in the event of significant damages to their property. While there is not a specific time-frame for when evacuation orders will be lifted, evacuees should expect that they will not be able to access their home until crews deem it safe to do so:

  • Hotspots and flare ups have continued almost daily, and more than 30 pieces of major equipment are active in the area, with suppression lines and bladders in place to support fighting the fire. Fire crews need unimpeded access to the area.
  • Crews continue to assess, identify and dispose of hazardous materials. There is no power and no potable water in the affected areas.
  • Crews are working to restore services to prepare for the time when it is deemed safe to return. BC Hydro is starting to repair power infrastructure.

Evacuated residents can call 1-833-498-3770 to register and access assistance, such as lodging and food, from Emergency Support Services. The ESS reception centre at 1480 Sutherland Avenue is open today from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Registering with the ESS, even if you do not need support, provides a way for the EOC to contact property owners whose properties have been damaged. ESS support services have now been expanded to continue until Oct. 1 for those owners who do not have home insurance.

For more information about this wildfire, visit cordemergency.ca, sign up for e-updates, follow the Central Okanagan Emergency Operations Centre on facebook.com/cordemergency or twitter.com/CO_emerg or call the information line at 250-469-8490.