Update: Fire less than two kilometres from La Casa

Sunday, August 2nd, 2009

Update 12:30 p.m.

Dennis Beaudry of B.C. Forests says the fire is on the north side of Fintry/High Farm and burning downhill—it’s 80-100 metres from structures. EOC officials said firefighters have been working to prevent fires on those homes. There’s also fire on the hill 1-1.5 kilometres away from La Casa to the west.

B.C. Hydro is asking residents on evacuation alert to be aware–if the fire gets close to equipment or people they will cut the power. If power is cut, fire crews have an electric generation system to pump water through their lines.

“It’s going to be hot, it’s going to be dry… it’s going to be a burning day,” Beaudry says, adding there will be northwest winds and humidity is at about two per cent.

Emergency Social Services director Beryl Itani said they’ve dealt with about 400 residents and that there are no available hotel rooms in town due to the long weekend.

Watch Kelowna.com for updates.

Update 10:57 a.m.

EOC press release/edited

A media briefing will be held at noon at the EOC located at the Kelowna Fire Department Station No. 1.

Emergency Operation Centre and emergency service personnel will provide an update on the state of the Terrace Mountain forest fire and Evacuation Orders and Alerts affecting north Westside Road area residents.

Watch Kelowna.com for updates.

Update 09/08/02 9:28 a.m.

EOC press release/edited

The Emergency Operations Centre thanks residents for their co-operation in making for yet another smooth, but large evacuation.

An estimated 2,500 residents from the Fintry/Muirallen Estates area along north Westside Road down the Trader’s Cove were forced from their homes by increased activity by the Terrace Mountain wildfire late yesterday. Emergency Social Services says 400 people were processed at the reception centre set up at Mount Boucherie Senior Secondary School, 2751 Cameron Rd. Approximately 120 of them were provided with group lodging at Trinity Baptist Church and at the UBC Okanagan campus. While some people slept in vehicles and campers at the school, evacuees are reminded that they must register in person for food and accommodation assistance. As hotel rooms become available for evacuees, ESS will make necessary arrangements for those residents in group lodging facilities.

Residents with pets or animals are able to receive in person assistance from representatives of the Canadian Disaster Animal Rescue Team (CDART) at the reception centre or by calling 250-809-7152. CDART is asking for donations of large dog leashes and small cat litter containers. Anyone able to help with these items is asked to visit the CDART representative at the reception centre.

There has been a region-wide response from Central Okanagan fire departments to assist North Westside Fire Rescue with structural fire protection in these evacuation areas. More than 60 fire fighters and a dozen pieces of equipment are being supplied by Lake Country, City of Kelowna, District of Peachland, District of West Kelowna, Joe Rich and Ellison paid-on call departments.

Even though BC Hydro advised last night that power lines serving the estimated 2,163 people in the Killiney, Westshore-Beau Park Evacuation Alert area might be de-energized, there were no disruptions in electrical service. Residents in these areas are reminded that they remain on Evacuation Alert and must be prepared to leave their homes on short notice.

At this time there are approximately 2,500 residents on Evacuation Order from the following areas:

· Caesar’s Landing

· Nahun

· Shelter Cove

· District lots off South Terrrace Main

· Wilson’s Landing

· Trader’s Cove

· Bear Creek Main to Kilometer 13 marker

· Bear Creek Provincial Park

· Fintry Provincial Park

· Upper Fintry

· Fintry Delta/Muirallen Estates

· Valley of the Sun

· La Casa resort

Overnight thermal imaging mapping for the Ministry of Forests indicates the Terrace Mountain wildfire has consumed 7,025 hectares of forest some of that includes fuel that has been burned off by the Ministry fire specialists as conditions allowed. Today the Ministry is allocating ground and air attack crews along the eastern flank of the fire.

Update 09/08/02 8:18 a.m.

The Terrace Mountain fire has grown by 2,500 hectares and is now 7,025 hectares in size–it is 30 per cent contained.

There are currently 237 fire fighters working on the fire and at 2 p.m. more fire fighters will be added. There are also 83 pieces of heavy equipment and 16 helicopters at work as well.

Fire information officer Suzanne Von der Porten says there are no predictions for growth today, but crews are hoping for lighter winds.

Update: Reports from evacuees indicate all hotel rooms are booked from Vancouver to Sicamous in the single busiest weekends of the year.

Update from B.C. Forest service: Crews worked in Shorts Creek yesterday to build a contingency guard above High Farm. Fire behaviour and safety concerns forced fire crews to pull out of that area of the fire. They started setting up Structural Protection Units early yesterday morning on structures in the High Creek area and aerial attack of the fire will continue today. Staff from the Office of the Fire Commissioner and the local fire department have been assisting forest fire suppression staff on this fire.

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