Drought Hill Wildfire Evacuation Order
Central Okanagan, B.C. – Due to a wildfire on Drought Hill between Peachland and West Kelowna tactical evacuations of approximately 400 nearby properties is underway and evacuation alerts will be issued shortly. Highway 97 and Highway 97C are closed.
Properties east of Trepanier Bench Road, south of Highway 97C and north of Highway 97 are on evacuation order and are asked to prepare to be away from their properties for an extended period of time, make arrangements for pets and pack essential items such as medicines and important documents. Please refer to the Map | Central Okanagan Emergency Operations on CORDemergency.ca/map to search by street address to determine if you are under an evacuation order.
Evacuees can temporarily report to Peachland Community Centre, 4450 6th Street, Peachland. A muster centre has been opened at Royal LePage Place, 2760 Cameron Avenue, West Kelowna, for evacuees unable to access the Peachland Community Centre.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO:
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Locate all family members and designate a meeting area outside the evacuation area, should an Evacuation Order be called while separated.
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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.
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Prepare to move disabled persons, children and/or neighbours, if assistance is needed.
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Prepare to take pets with you and move livestock to a safe area (if possible).
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Arrange transportation for all your household members. Fill the gas tanks of personal vehicles. If transportation assistance is needed, call 250-469-8590.
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Arrange accommodation for all members of the residence, if possible.
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Wait for an Evacuation Order to be issued before evacuating. Monitor cordermergency.ca for information on evacuation orders and location of Reception Centres.
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Self-registration for Emergency Support Services: Emergency Support Services Self Registration
RCMP are assisting with evacuation. BC Wildfire, Peachland Fire & Rescue are assisted by West Kelowna Fire Rescue and Kelowna Fire Department.
Additional resources to Emergency Preparedness information can be found at cordemergency.ca. Central Okanagan Emergency information is also available on Facebook at facebook.com/CORDEmergency and on Twitter at twitter.com/CO_Emerg.
An evaluation of the situation is underway and specific details will be released as they are confirmed. Public safety and the safety of emergency response personnel are the primary concerns at this time.
Emergency Operations Centre staff are working with other response agencies to manage the situation and minimize the impacts, however residents of the area should be prepared to obey an evacuation order.
New information will be released to the public and media as soon as it becomes available.
Emergency response personnel request that the public:
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Please only call 911 in case of emergency
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For up-to-date information on the situation, including a map, and to sign up for e-updates, visit cordemergency.ca.
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Information will also be provided via twitter.com/CO_Emerg and facebook.com/CORDEmergency
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For more information, contact the information line at 250-469-8490 (local) or 1-877-569-8490 (toll-free)
Stay informed:
