Bald Range Wildfire: evacuation order and alert remain

Bald Range Wildfire - K51490

Peachland and Electoral Area West, B.C.  – The evacuation alert and order remain in place for the Peachland and Regional District Electoral Area West due to the Bald Range wildfire. Please refer to the interactive map on coemergency.ca/map where you can search by street address to determine if you are affected.

 

Residents in the evacuation alert area are advised to be ready to leave their homes at a moment’s notice. They should be prepared to be away from home for an extended period, make arrangements for their pets, and pack essential items such as medicines and important documents. 

 

To determine if you are in the evacuation area, view the detailed map showing affected properties at coemergency.ca/map.

 

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO:

  • Locate all family members and designate a meeting area outside the evacuation area, should an Evacuation Order be called while separated.

  • Pack essential items such as government-issued ID, medications, eyeglasses, valuable papers (e.g. insurance, credit, and mortgage information), immediate care needs for dependents and, if time and space permits, keepsakes for quick departure. 

  • Prepare to move persons with disabilities, children and/or neighbours, if assistance is needed.

  • Prepare to take pets with you and move livestock to a safe area (if possible).

  • Arrange transportation for all your household members. Fill the gas tanks or charge EV of personal vehicles. If transportation assistance is needed, call 250-469-8490 (local) or 1-877-569-8490 (toll-free).

  • Arrange accommodation for all members of the residence, if possible. 

  • Wait for an Evacuation Order to be issued before evacuating. 

  • Monitor coemergency.ca for information on evacuation orders and the location of Reception/Muster Centres.

 

Additional resources for Emergency Preparedness information can be found at PreparedBC.ca. 

 

BC Wildfire Service is bringing in more firefighters, structure protection crews, fire departments, heavy equipment and aircraft to support fire suppression efforts. Helicopters and airtankers will be used for water and retardant delivery, as well as fire reconnaissance, when conditions allow. Smoke and poor visibility may limit aircraft operations.

 

Fire size and perimeter updates are gathered by crews on the ground and in the air and will be updated in the app as information becomes available. Heavy smoke and poor visibility prevented aircraft from mapping the full fire perimeter yesterday. Crews are working to obtain updated information as soon as possible. Visit BC Wildfire’s website for additional details. 

 

For Highway 97 road conditions please refer to www.drivebc.ca for the latest information.

 

More information will be released as they are confirmed. Public safety and the safety of emergency response personnel are the primary concerns at this time.  

 

Emergency Support Services update

 

Emergency Support Services (ESS) opened until further notice at the Westbank Lions Community Centre at 2466 Main Street in West Kelowna to help support evacuees with access to accommodation, food, clothing, and cultural services.

 

Volunteers are working to support evacuees at the Royal LePage Place (2760 Cameron Rd) in West Kelowna. As of Aug. 8, at 9 a.m., ESS has registered 824 evacuees in person. The centre is equipped with snacks, water, sleeping cots, washroom facilities and first aid. 

 

Mount Boucherie Secondary School (2751 Cameron Road), located next to Royal LePage ESS, can accommodate parking for RVs. 

 

Westbank First Nation's Sensisyusten House of Learning (1920 Quail Lane) is also welcoming evacuees impacted by the Bald Ridge and Quilpituk Creek wildfires. The centre is equipped with snacks, water, washroom facilities and first aid.

 

New information will be released to the public and media as soon as it becomes available. 

 

Emergency response personnel request that the public:

 

  • Avoid the area so emergency responders can effectively perform their duties

  • CALL 911 only in case of an emergency

 

For more information, call at 250-469-8490 (local) or 1-877-569-8490 (toll-free)

 

For municipal and local government information such as boat launch, park and beach closures, and water quality advisories, visit their websites:

Other: Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS)