Saturday, August 8, 2009

Fire information update -- Terrace Mountain Fire grows slightly

Kelowna Capital News
Updated: August 07, 2009 3:36 PM


The Terrace Mountain forest fire continued to burn out of control as the weekend got underway, keeping more than 2,000 people from their homes.

Residents in Caesar’s Landing, Nahun, Shelter Cove, District lots off South Terrace Main, Wilson’s Landing, Fintry Provincial Park, Upper Fintry, Fintry Delta, Muirallen Estates, Valley of the Sun and La Casa remained evacuated as of Friday afternoon.

The blaze grew a further 200 hectares Thursday night and into Friday morning.

As a result, an estimated 2,526 residents were also kept on evacuation alert and were told to be prepared to leave their homes at a moment’s notice.

Areas on evacuation alert were Ewings Landing, Estamont, Summersands, Aspen Shores, Killiney Beach, Marchbank, Wainman Cove, Westshore, Beau Park, Evely Forest Recreation site, Traders Cove, Bear Creek Provincial Park and residences from 524 to 1075 Bear Creek Road north.

Those on evacuation order and who required Emergency Social Services assistance were asked to appear in person Friday at the reception centre in Mount Boucherie Senior Secondary School, 2751 Cameron Road in West Kelowna. The centre issued referral extensions to those residents still needing vouchers for food and accommodation. The extensions expire Aug. 14 at 11:00 a.m.

As of Friday however, only permanent residents were eligible for the extensions under the Provincial Emergency Program.

The Ministry of Forests says the Terrace Mountain forest fire remains active with a flare up occurring Thursday night, which was fanned by northerly winds along the eastern slopes of the mountain.

No structures were threatened. The fire was estimated at 8,550 hectares.

Air tankers continue to lay retardant and bucketing helicopters are dropping Thermo-Gel along the southern flank.

This weekend, RCMP are providing marina and boat rental companies with maps and asking that they advise customers to keep boat activity from the centre of Okanagan Lake to the eastern shoreline, away from the evacuation area, so that fire fighting air crews have clear access for water pickups.

Similar information is also available at local boat launches.

Westside Road remained closed at the intersection of Bear Lake Main, including the forest service road to the 13 kilometre marker. The northern boundary of the evacuation area was Baziw Orchards, just south of Ewings Landing.

For the latest Emergency Operation Centre news releases, detailed maps and other information regarding the Terrace Mountain forest fire, visit the regional district website www.regionaldistrict.com and click on the Terrace Mountain Fire icon.

For more information on other forest fires in the province visit www.bcwildfire.ca or call 1-888-336-7378.

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