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Smith Creek Fire
Pet rescues underway in Smith Creek fire zone
WEST KELOWNA - An animal rescue team is doing everything possible to ensure no pet is left behind while a forest fire rages in West Kelowna. The Canadian Disaster Animal Response Team (CDART) has recovered over 60 animals from the evacuation zone near Smith Creek, including 16 horses, 21 cats and 21 dogs. Spokesperson Petra...
Smith Creek fire continues to burn within perimeter; evacuees still waiting to go home
WEST KELOWNA – Still no word from the Emergency Operations Centre on when the evacuation order that forced about 2,500 people from their homes will be lifted as progress continues to be made on the Smith Creek wildfire. Members of the Unified Incident Command are assessing the progress made overnight in the fight against the...
UPDATE: More West Kelowna evacuees going home
WEST KELOWNA - Even more Smith Creek wildfire evacuees went home Sunday. As of 5 p.m., the staff at the Emergency Operation Centre lifted the evacuation order for more streets in the Shannon Woods nighbourhood in West Kelowna. The evacuation alert has been lifted for Bartley Road and Lenz Road. About 2,000 of the 2,500 West Kelowna residents...
Heavy fines and potential jail time awaits those caught in Smith Creek restricted zone
WEST KELOWNA - To help ensure public and firefighter safety, the Kamloops Fire Centre is restricting access to certain areas in and around the Smith Creek fire zone, even as many are returning to their homes. An Area Restriction Order is in effect immediately and will remain in place until July 31, or until the...
Cooler, wet forecast could help Thompson-Okanagan fire crews
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - A little help is in the forecast for fire crews this week as Mother Nature dials down the temperatures and throws in a little rain. While temperatures will be near normal (26-29 Celsius) across the region for the next two days we can also expect to see rain today with a 40 per...
Shannon Lake Park continues to be off-limits
WEST KELOWNA – The threat from the Smith Creek wildfire in West Kelowna has forced the continued closure of Shannon Lake Regional Park. The fire fighting activity makes the park too dangerous for visitors, according to a media release from the Regional District of the Central Okanagan. The heli-tankers are using water from the lake...
SMITH CREEK LATEST EVAC ORDERS AND ALERTS
July 21, 2014 11:45 a.m. The Emergency Operation Centre advises that the Evacuation Order for the Smith Creek Fire has been lifted for additional streets in the Tallus Ridge Neighbourhood effective 12 p.m. Monday, July 21. The Evacuation Order remains in effect for eight large, rural, private properties in the interface areas immediately above Smith...
Provinces join to fight wildfires
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Three provincial wildfire teams from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Quebec arrived this Sunday, July 20. The teams will help B.C. Wildfire members continue their battle against several fires across the province. Out-of-province teams will also help provide rest and recovery for British Columbia members. They will join Ontario team members who arrived...
Final Smith Creek fire evacuees going home
WEST KELOWNA – Almost one week after it started, the last residents forced out by the Smith Creek fire are going home. The evacuation order has been rescinded for the final inhabited property on Dixie Rd. as of 1 p.m. today. A local state of emergency continues in West Kelowna and the fire remains active....
UPDATE: Smith Creek residents get all clear for flood risk
WEST KELOWNA – A major storm that passed through the area caused no flooding or erosion damage in the hills above Smith Creek. With heavy rain expected Wednesday afternoon, professionals studying the fire worried it could bring erosion or flooding. Much of the vegetation was consumed by wildfire and they were concerned heavy rain could...
Smith Creek fire evacuation alerts and orders to be lifted today
WEST KELOWNA - All remaining evacuation alerts and orders will be lifted for the Smith Creek fire as of 5 p.m. Thursday because the fire is now 100 per cent contained. Containment does not mean the fire is out and the Area Restriction Order in place through the Wildfire Management Branch remains active. A post-wildfire...
West Kelowna residents thank firefighters with signs and free lemonade
WEST KELOWNA – A neighbourhood in West Kelowna that was one of the first to be evacuated by the Smith Creek fire last week are busy putting their lives back together, but not too busy to say thank you. Sheri Dodd and her family live at the end of Cobblestone Drive. They were told Thursday...
Just another day at the office for Smith Creek fire pilots
KELOWNA – If you ask the helicopter pilots about their role in bringing the 400 hectare Smith Creek wildfire under control, they’ll probably tell you it was all in a day’s work. Pilot Robert Stevens flies one of four Bell 212 helicopters Wildcat uses to fight fires for the province. When the Smith Creek blaze...
VIDEO: Smith Creek fire from above and by the numbers
KELOWNA - Take a guess: How much water have fire crews dropped on the Smith Creek fire over the past week and a half? Would you believe more than 1.2 million litres? As of Monday morning helicopters had flown more than 100 hours, skimmers had dropped more than 300 loads of water and foam and...
Wildfire wasn’t enough to get Smith Creek out of the woods
WEST KELOWNA - Smith Creek and Tallus Ridge were initiated into the fraternity of Central Okanagan neighbourhoods evacuated and threatened by fire but with one significant difference — they remain at risk of an interface fire and are perhaps at an even greater risk because of it. Glenrosa, Goat’s Peak, Rose Valley and Westside Road...