More fire evacuees can go home
The Regional District of Central Okanagan has lifted more evacuation orders for evacuees of the White Rock Lake wildfire.
“In consultation with BC Wildfire and Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, the Central Okanagan Emergency Operations advises that the Evacuation Orders for Ewings Landing, Killiney Beach and Westshore Estates neighbourhoods have been rescinded and downgraded to Evacuation Alerts,” stated a news release from Central Okanagan Emergency Operations issued at 4:00 p.m. Thursday.
Residents re-entering the area must enter from the south along Westside Road as the north end of the road remains closed until further notice. No access will be permitted from the north to any properties in RDCO. Non-residents should avoid using Westside Road between Firwood Road and Irish Creek Road. In order to help with managing traffic flows, residents returning to Westshore Estates are asked to consider postponing their return until after 5 p.m. There is no access to Parker Cove.
The Emergency Operations Centre recommends that residents returning home bring bottled water with them. As a result of wildfire damage, a Do Not Consume Notice is in place for the Killiney water system. This water should not be used for drinking, making beverages, brushing teeth or food preparation. Killiney is also under stage four water restrictions, which means no outdoor water use except what is required for health and safety.
In addition, a Water Quality Advisory is in place until further notice for the Upper Fintry-Shalal Road-Valley of the Sun water systems.
Residents may return home for the following properties in Ewings Landing and Killiney Beach:
- Attenborough Rd
- Beachwood Rd
- Blarney Pl
- Brant Rd
- Elliot Rd
- Ewings Landing Rd
- Portion of Fintry Estates (Parcel at the end of Houghton Rd)
- Galway Pl
- Hodges Rd
- Homer Cres
- Houghton Rd
- Keithley Rd
- Kenyon Rd
- Kilarney Pl
- Kildare Way
- Kilkenny Pl
- Killarney Pl
- Killarney Way
- Killeney Beach
- Killeney Pl
- Leah Rd
- Lester Rd
- Marchbank Rd
- Moody Cres
- Nerie Rd
- Sugar Loaf FSR
- Udell Rd
- Westside Rd (from 8645 to 9995 Westside Rd)
- Portions of Westside Rd N
- Winchester Dr
- Winchester Rd
Residents may return home for all properties in Westshore Estates including:
- Alder Drive
- Bluebird Drive
- Cedar Drive
- Columbia Way
- Crown Crescent
- Dogwood Drive
- Evergreen Way
- Hemlock Drive
- Hillcrest Way
- Hillside Drive
- Lakewood Rd
- Lakeview Drive
- Larch Rd
- Maple Drive
- Morningside Drive
- Mountain Drive
- Northern View Drive
- Pinecrest Rd
- Spruce Drive
- Westshore Rd
- Westside Rd
- Valley Drive
An evacuation order remains in place for 18 properties on Bouleau Lake Road and there is no public access to the Bouleau Lake area. The Everly Recreation Site remains closed to the public. Find a detailed map showing properties on Order and Alert at www.cordemergency.ca/map. Residents in the Alert areas should be prepared to leave their home at a moment’s notice.
Additional security is in place in fire impacted zones to support the return of residents to their neighbourhoods.
Residents may find a number of hazards in their homes or on their properties. They are advised to consult the Re-Entry Checklist and other important information in the Returning Home Guide available at www.cordemergency.ca/resources. Copies of the guide are also available at the Short’s Creek Station 102 parking lot at 7355 Westside Road North.
Yesterday’s Returning Home Information Session provided residents with information about what to expect as they prepare to go back to the area. The recorded session is available at: www.youtube.com/regionaldistrict.
Returning residents are reminded to stay out of the backcountry. An Area Restriction Order is in effect for all crown lands in in the vicinity of the wildfire. Details and a map can be found on the BC Wildfire Service website.
As focus begins to shift to local-area recovery, the Regional District of the Central Okanagan has setup a dedicated recovery office. Area residents and property owners who experienced significant structural damage will be able to access resources at rdco.com/recovery, email recovery@rdco.com or call 250-469-6111.