Peachland mayor suspends bylaw, welcomes wildfire refugees to beach front

The waterfront in Peachland is uncharacteristically dotted with RVs and campers who are taking refuge from wildfires.

When the rapidly moving Bald Range fire forced the evacuation of the District of Summerland and some District of Peachland residents just after midnight, Aug. 8, some evacuees in fled to Beach Avenue for safety.

While there is a strict bylaw in Peachland that prohibits overnight parking of RVs and campers along the beach, the mayor of Peachland was quick to waive the rules.  

“There were about 50 RVs parked there when I came down early the next morning,” Mayor Van Minsel told iNFOnews.ca. “I just went to each one of them and told them they could stay and not to worry about the bylaw, I’d take care of it.

“In times like this, people can stay as long as they need to. I think they really appreciate it.”

The mayor is taking walks along the beach every night checking on evacuees and receiving praise from local residents on social media for taking quick action to help.

He said he hasn’t received a single complaint from locals about the temporary lodgers.

“People understand the situation, and in our town when something like this happens a lot of residents step up to help,” he said.

Peachland resident Heather Ragany lives near Todd’s RV and Camping on the waterfront.

“I’m happy to see them out there if staying within the boundaries of their home community makes it at least a little more comforting for them,” she said. “A friend of mine baked cookies and took them all along Beach Avenue to hand out to evacuees. There was a donation handout at Todd’s campground yesterday and some residents are offering to do laundry for them.

“Forest fires are definitely devastating and displaces a lot of people. It definitely brings out the humanity in people so the silver lining is you see these beautiful gestures and perhaps some lifelong friendships get built.”

The mayor said crews of volunteer students are doing garbage runs for the campers twice per day and the Peachland community centre is open most days from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. so people can access showers.

“We as a district are doing the best we can to support everyone,” he said. “We’re running with a thin crew at the moment. We have seven or eight of our staff members from Summerland who are now in Penticton. We have seven or eight of them working with the (emergency operations centre), so they’re out. We’re a skeleton crew but we’re doing our best.”

Parts of Peachland and all of Summerland are still under evacuation orders as the out-of-control wildfire continues to grow and it isn’t clear when evacuees will be able to return to their properties.

“I know people are anxious and want to get back home but I’m asking them for patience,” Van Minsel said. “The fire is active and unpredictable and safety has to come first.”

The mayor updates the community three times per day on social media to share wildfire updates.