July 23, 2009

TERRACE MOUNTAIN EVACUATION EXPANDED

As a result of increased activity associated with the Terrace Mountain forest fire, which has grown to an estimated 4,000 hectares, an EVACUATION ORDER has been issued for the North Westside Road areas between Caesar’s Landing in the south and Killiney Beach in the north.

This order indicates approximately 2,200 residents must immediately leave the following areas:

(EVACUATION ORDER)

•Caesar’s Landing
•Ewing’s Landing
•Nahun
•Valley of the Sun
•Muirallen Estates
•Estamont •Aspen Shores
•Summersands
•La Casa
•Fintry Provincial Park and campground and Fintry Delta
•Killiney Beach

These residents must travel north on Westside Road and report and register in person with Emergency Social Services at the reception centre located at the Vernon Recreation Centre, 3310 37th Avenue in the City of Vernon. Emergency Social Service volunteers are on hand to assist these evacuated residents with food, lodging and other needs. Residents with questions and queries regarding the evacuation and alerts may contact 250-469-8490 which does not incur long distance charges for North Westside Road residents using a cell phone. RCMP and other officials will be assisting these evacuated residents with an orderly and safe movement north along Westside Road to the Reception Centre. Please be aware of the possibility of encountering heavy equipment and fire resources along Westside Road. The public is asked to please stay out of areas under evacuation order to allow emergency services to focus on public safety. Also an Evacuation Alert has been issued for residents and property owners living in the Westshore subdivision to the north of the area now under evacuation and on the south side of the evacuation area from the Cinnebar Creek subdivision to Trader’s Cove including Bear Creek Provincial Park.

The areas now under evacuation alert are:

(EVACUATION ALERT)

•Westshores
•Cinnibar Creek
•Cottages at Secret Point
•Shelter Cove •Lake Okanagan Resort
•Jenny Creek •Wilson’s Landing
•Pine Point subdivision
•Traders Cove
*Bear Creek Provincial Park 

It would be prudent for these residents under Evacuation Alert to begin preparations in case they must leave their homes on short notice. All previous Evacuation Alerts remain in effect and have not been changed. Those residents remain under Evacuation Alert. The Emergency Operations Centre is unable to determine how long Evacuation Orders and Alerts will remain in place and assesses the need daily. Until an Evacuation Order is issued, it is not necessary to evacuate – only to be on alert and ready to leave if an Evacuation Order is given.

Should there be any change in that status residents will be advised through regular media channels. We encourage residents as part of their emergency planning and preparedness to ensure they have a battery powered or wind up radio. Inquiries may be directed to the Emergency Social Services Call Centre at 778-797-2269.

A full listing of properties on Evacuation Order and Alert and updated maps regarding the Terrace Mountain fire is attached and will be posted on the Regional District website at: http://www.regionaldistrict.com/

Source: Castanet.net http://www.castanet.net/news/West-Kelowna/48404/Evacuation-order-lifted-at-5-p-m

(by Contributed - Story: 48404 Jul 23, 2009 / 9:52 am)

More information on the West Kelowna fires can be found on the Distric of West Kelowna website at: http://www.districtofwestside.ca/ and at AM 1150 Kelowna (radio website), at: http://www.am1150.ca/news/565