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Safety
Penticton Indian Band reinstates support for Boonstock
PENTICTON - The Penticton Indian Band has retracted a statement that was accidentally released earlier today withdrawing their support for Boonstock Music and Arts Festival this weekend. Chief Jonathan Kruger said organizers have now met all the band's requirements and they will continue to support the festival. Organizers had not yet provided the $200,000 bill...
Tubers urged to take care on Shuswap River
ENDERBY - Those participating in a quintessential summer activity in the North Okanagan are being reminded to do so carefully this summer. Floating debris from a landslide in May means there are more hazards for people tubing down the Shuswap River in Enderby. The Shuswap River Ambassadors, who gather and share information for the public,...
ARCHER: Shoutout to all the fire crews
Last week the Thompson-Okanagan was literally on fire, as I’m sure most of you know—it’s hard not to ignore large puffs of smoke coming from mountain tops, hazy skies that make it hard to breathe and endless news articles on fire updates and evacuation notices. Most of us watch these fires spread from a distance,...
Evacuation alerts lifted for Apex and Jura mountain fires
PENTICTON - Evacuation alerts have been lifted for Apex and Jura mountain fires thanks to slow, steady rain falling in the South Okanagan and the hard work of wildfire crews. Evacuation alerts for the following homes have been cancelled as of Thursday morning, according to the RDOS: For the Apex fire: 146, 108, 22, 26,...
Boot Hill fire completely contained
PENTICTON - The Boot Hill fire near Lookout Mountain is 100 per cent contained with the goal achieved Tuesday evening. The 101 hectare fire is located 30 kilometres south of Penticton. The fire was caused by lightning and was not an interface fire, according to B.C. Wildfire. The fire was first called in on July...
UPDATE: Boot Hill fire partially contained
PENTICTON - A fire burning 30 kilometres southwest of Penticton near Lookout Mountain is now 50 per cent contained. As of Saturday night the fire is mapped at 100 hectares, down from the 138 ha it was thought to be Friday, and was caused by lightning. It is was first discovered Monday, July 14 and...
UPDATE: Jura Mountain fire 70 per cent contained
PENTICTON - The wildfire burning near Jura Mountain remains 460 hectares in size and is still 70 per cent contained Sunday. The blaze is burning near five kilometres southeast of Missezula Lake. There are 27 firefighters, 4 helicopters, 9 pieces of heavy equipment with air tankers hitting the fire as needed, according to the B.C....
Boil water notice lifted in Okanagan Falls
OKANAGAN FALLS - The boil water notice issued last week for Okanagan Falls residents has been lifted. The requirement of three clean water samples was given to Interior Health by the Okanagan Falls Irrigation District. The water found to be contaminated with traces of E. Coli last week is now clean and ready to use...
Smoky skies across Okanagan and Similkameen valleys
OKANAGAN - A smokey skies advisory is in effect for the Okanagan and Similkameen areas, due to high levels of wildfire smoke spreading throughout the valley. The concentration of smoke will vary as wind, fire behaviour and temperatures change. The advisory was announced Thursday morning by the B.C. Ministry of Environment. The Ministry is advising...
Contaminated tap water in Okanagan Falls; boil water notice issued
OKANAGAN FALLS - A boil water notice was issued Thursday for Okanagan Falls residents, after water testing results showed traces of E. Coli contamination. Residents are being warned by Okanagan Falls Irrigation District and Interior Health to boil water for one minute before drinking, preparing food, and brushing teeth. Water samples are being sent to...
RCMP vow to keep Penticton safe during Boonstock
PENTICTON - RCMP continue to work with Boonstock organizers to ensure concertgoers and the general public will stay safe during the August long weekend. Boonstock organizers shared an updated version of their security plan with RCMP after a new security company was hired to run the event. RCMP are not required to approve the plan,...
Wildfire near White Lake Observatory reduced to brush fire
PENTICTON - A wildfire near White Lake Observatory in Okanagan Falls is nearly out after fire crews worked to put out the flames Monday evening. The fire started around 4:30 p.m. with unknown cause and grew to 20 hectares in size but was reduced to a brush fire by 7:30 p.m. Monday, when B.C. Wildfire...
‘Everything’s up to chance’ with Boonstock: RCMP
PENTICTON - Police continue to have serious concerns about a lack of security at Boonstock but are powerless to intervene. Add Penticton RCMP to the list of organizations kept in the dark about festival plans, now only three weeks away. Staff Sgt. Kurt Lozinski, the officer in charge of RCMP involvement in the festival, says...
Residents ordered to evacuate Gables Hotel
PENTICTON - Residents of the Three Gables Hotel were ordered to evacuate the building yesterday due to unsafe and unhealthy building conditions. Penticton Fire Department officials said the existing building conditions could seriously endanger life or property if there were a fire. The 17 residents were given 48 hours to collect their things and leave....
Ski hill calls for improvements on B.C.’s worst road
“WE HAVE A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR RESORT AT THE END OF A CRAPPY DRIVE” VERNON - A major Vernon tourism engine is calling for improvements on the province’s worst road. Silver Star Mountain Resort’s operations manager Brad Baker says something has to be done about Silver Star Road, which was nominated as the worst road in...
Wondering where the wildlife is? WildSafeBC has you covered
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - It’s spring and that means there are lots of wild baby animals roaming around, but hopefully not in backyards and towns. In the Thompson-Okanagan, black bears are the most common wildlife spotted. There have been a total of 42 black bear sightings in the last two weeks; three in Kamloops, eight in Naramata,...
Road safety highlighted during Bike to Work Week
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - This week is Bike to Work Week, a celebration that kicks off a season of more cyclists on the roads, and both cyclists and motorists are being reminded to do their part to help keep everyone safe. ICBC notes an average of nearly 1,000 cyclists are injured during the warmer months of May...