Evacuation orders and alerts due to wildfires in the Central Okanagan are expected to be downgraded today in Kelowna, West Kelowna and Lake Country.
During a regional update Wednesday, Aug. 23, Kelowna City Manager Doug Gilchrist said that information will soon be made available on the (COEOC).
香蕉视频直播淲hile we recognize that the emergency is not over in many areas香蕉视频直播e are working in parallel with those response efforts on ensuring a strong recovery plan,香蕉视频直播� added Gilchrist.
He added recovery efforts will still be coordinated but that each affected community will handle its own recovery with the assistance of provincial resources.
Information will also be available on the later today for homeowners to determine the status of their properties.
香蕉视频直播淲hen you get to the website you香蕉视频直播檒l be asked to put in your address and you香蕉视频直播檒l immediately get a response whether your property is fine or whether it has been damaged,香蕉视频直播� explained Gilchrist. 香蕉视频直播淚f your property is not on the list with having significant damage, it does not mean you can go home.香蕉视频直播�
Homeowners will total or partial loss will be asked to fill out a form and will then be contacted by someone from the EOC.
香蕉视频直播淲hen it is safe to do so we will be looking to have property owners taken out to those properties on a priority basis, 香蕉视频直播� said Gilchrist.
Those without internet access can call the COEOC at 250-469-8490. The web-based model is necessary given the number of properties affected.
香蕉视频直播淚n a perfect world our preference, without question, would be to personally call every single homeowner and be with them when they receive what is probably the worst news they have ever received,香蕉视频直播� said Sally Ginter, CAO for RDCO. 香蕉视频直播淭he reason we are doing this website isn香蕉视频直播檛 because we don香蕉视频直播檛 care, it香蕉视频直播檚 because we do care.香蕉视频直播�
Ginter added those who have lost their homes will continue to be supported.
West Kelowna Fire Chief Jason Brolund has confirmed that 84 properties have some form of damage in the city and the Westbank First Nation.
WFN officials have confirmed that 11 properties and a fourplex have been destroyed or damaged.
He said the downgrading of evacuation orders and alerts will come in small pieces.
香蕉视频直播淭hey will be nowhere as large when we asked you to leave. We香蕉视频直播檙e looking at first and foremost is it safe to do so.香蕉视频直播�
Brolund added that includes making sure fires are out and that utilities and infrastructure and safe and properly restored.
North Westside fire chief Ross Kotscherofski said 90 properties in the area have been damaged in the RDCO Electoral West area.
香蕉视频直播淚 want to stress these are not structures, these are properties and some properties such as the Lake Okanagan Resort (LOR) have several structures on one property. LOR has a total of almost 195 units within the property.香蕉视频直播�
Kotscherofski added that much of the work in the area cannot be completed until hazard assessment have been conducted.
香蕉视频直播淲e will do our best to get you that information and any changes as that becomes available.香蕉视频直播�
Gilchrist reminded homeowners to be cautious around their properties once they are allowed to return.
香蕉视频直播淯nstable ground, dangerous trees, and things of the like may certainly still exist. Please do not go into the forested areas around the homes, those have not been assessed.香蕉视频直播�
Recent mapping by the BC Wildfire Service puts the McDougall Creek wildfire at just over 12,000 hectares, the Walroy Lake fire in Kelowna at 790 hectares and the Clarke Creek fire in Lake Country at 370 hectares.
READ MORE: No changes to Kelowna wildfire overnight despite rain and lightning in the area
READ MORE: McDougall Creek wildfire in West Kelowna remains the same as air improves
gary.barnes@kelownacapnews.com
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