Evacuation Order for Westshore Estates – Evacuation Alert for the rest of North Westside

As of 7:30 pm August 01 2021 Westshore Estates and the properties in Beau Park on Whiteman’s Main are under and immediate Evacuation Order.

All properties from Evely/Wainman Cove through the North Westside and down Westside Road to Bear Creek Main are under a Evacuation Alert Status. This means you should have your essentials, pets, kids and “Grab n Go Bags ready or loaded in your vehicle for a fast departure… if needed.

---

Westshore / Beau Park Documentation

Evacuation Order – Westshores

Evacuation Order – Beau Park

• You will be asked to leave soon, go south (Westside Road through OKIB is closed to traffic) to the Reception Center/ESS is at the Salvation Army located at 1480 Sutherland Avenue, Kelowna, BC. This is where you get any further assistance that you require.

---

Evacuation Alert Area Information & RDCO News Releases

• As for the rest of us from Evely Rec Site/Wainman Cove to Traders Cove we are on Alert Status which means be ready to go with short or no notice. Sign up for good information at CORDEMERGENCY.ca and get the latest most accurate fire and evacuation notices to keep you and yours safe and informed.

Director Update: 210804 @ 1:15pm – No change at this time to the Order and Alerts for the North Westside. That being said the EOC has concerns on the number of Westshore residents that have not evacuated. The fire is a real threat to Westshore Estates and residents need to leave as their presence will hamper structural protection and wild land fire fighting efforts. Should you decide to stay you may compromise structural protection deployment (sprinkler systems) and/or suppression efforts (aircraft can not operate with civilians on the fire ground a retardant drop can kill you even in a vehicle, a ton or more of water falling 500 feet at 120mph will hurt a lot). Water in the community system belongs to the fire service and you will not have access without their permission which they will not give to unorganized efforts to protect properties outside the Incident Command System. You want to help leave; and let the properly trained, properly equipped experts protect your home and property.

EOC Release Aug 05 21 @ 1:04pm – Central Okanagan, B.C. – There is no change at this time in the Evacuation Order and Alert for areas of the Regional District of Central Okanagan (RDCO). The White Rock Lake wildfire continues showing aggressive behaviour and wind is expected later today. Residents in alert areas should be prepared to leave on short notice if conditions in the area change.

Information on the status of current Evacuation Orders and Alerts and a map showing the impacted area is available on the RDCO Emergency program website cordemergency.ca. Any change or update in this information will be available on the website, social media channels, emailed to those who have e-subscribed and through local media.

Evacuation Order Information

The current Evacuation Order affects 544 properties in the Westshore Estates subdivision off Westside Road and rural areas to the west. Residents are reminded that it is unsafe to be in evacuated areas and their presence can put themselves, emergency operations personnel and first responders in harm’s way:

• Evacuation routes can change or become impassible
• Services, utilities and businesses that you rely on daily may be shut down
• Help may not be able to reach an evacuated area because of a risk to their own safety or access is blocked

RCMP are patrolling within the evacuation area and will be requesting residents leave immediately. Structural fire crews are also in the area conducting assessments.

If you are in an evacuated area and not signed up with Emergency Support Services (ESS), please do so at your earliest opportunity whether support is needed or not. This will help ensure that families and communities know residents are safe and accounted for.

An ESS reception centre for evacuated residents is located at 1480 Sutherland Ave in Kelowna. ESS volunteers are available, as needed, to help affected Central Okanagan residents. Residents that are evacuated from their homes must report to the reception centre to receive any short term assistance and lodging. Evacuees can pre-register with ESS online at ess.gov.bc.ca but still need to visit the ESS Reception Centre in order to receive the appropriate supplier forms as specific paperwork is required in order to access these services.

Evacuation Alert Information

Another 2,400 properties along Westside Road are under Evacuation Alert, south of Westshore Estates to the Bear Lake Main Forest Service Road intersection just north of Traders Cove. The alert area also includes all public lands located north of Bear and Esperon Forest Service Road. Drivers should be aware the area is restricted to local traffic only. Should fire conditions change, all people on alert must be prepared to leave their home or campsite on short notice.

Preparing for an emergency

Information on emergency preparedness is available at cordemergency.ca/beprepared and through Emergency Preparedness Canada. If leaving your home due to a wildfire and it is safe, take the following action:

• Close all windows and doors in the house.
• Cover vents, windows, and other openings of the house with duct tape and/or precut pieces of plywood.
• Park your car, positioned forward out of the driveway. Keep car windows closed and have your valuables already packed in your car.
• Turn off propane or natural gas. Move any propane barbeques into the open, away from structures.
• Turn on the lights in the house, porch, garage and yard.
  Inside the house, move combustible materials such as light curtains and furniture away from the windows.
• Move all combustibles away from the house, including firewood and lawn furniture.
• Evacuate your family and pets to a safe location.

White Rock Lake fire information

The latest information from the BC Wildfire Service lists the fire as out of control, estimates the size as 32,500 hectares and 8.5 km from Westside Road. For updates on the status of the fire, visit the White Rock Lake wildfire webpage on the BC Wildfire Service website.

Emergency response personnel request that the public:

• Leave areas under an evacuation order immediately.
• Avoid the area so emergency responders can safely and effectively perform their duties.
• Report an emergency, including threat of life, by calling 9-1-1.
• Report wildfires at *5555 on your cell phone
• Visit cordemergency.ca for up-to-date information on evacuations alerts and orders within the Central Okanagan, including a map and to sign up for e-updates
• Find updates on twitter.com/CO_Emerg and facebook.com/CORDEmergency
• Contact the information line at 250-469-8490 or 1-877-569-8490 toll-free with questions

Other resources

• Resources are stretched at this time, residents are encouraged to make plans for their pets and animals in the event of an Evacuation Alert to and Evacuation Order
• Road closure information for the affected area can be found at DriveBC.com
• Overdose prevention site locations can be found at InteriorHealth.ca

Emergency operations staff will release any new information to the public and media as soon as it becomes available

News Release No. 6, Central Okanagan, B.C. – While there is no change in the Evacuation Order and Alert for areas of the Regional District of Central Okanagan (RDCO) for the moment, the White Rock Lake wildfire is showing aggressive behaviour. Residents in alert areas should be prepared to leave on short notice if conditions in the area change.

News Release No. 5 – Central Okanagan, B.C. 210803 @ 4:20pm – No change to the orders/alerts or fire.

News Release No. 4 – Central Okanagan, B.C. 210802 @ 2:35pm – All evacuation orders and alerts remain in place north of, but not including Traders Cove within the Regional District of Central Okanagan, for the White Rock Lake Wildfire.

Drive BC reports that Westside Road remains closed to the public between Six Mile Creek Road and Pinecrest Road near Vernon. Go to www.drivebc.ca for road closure updates.

For the latest information on the White Rock Lake Wildfire, visit the BC Wildfire Service website at bcfireinfo.for.gov.bc.ca/hprScripts/WildfireNews/OneFire.asp?ID=855.

The Evacuation Order remains in place for all properties in Westshore Estates including:

• 11100 Antler Road
• 801 Beau Park Road
• 11000 Bouleau Lake Road
• Select properties on Bouleau Lake Road (no civic address, please see map)
• 980 Gates Road
• 10780 Whiteman Creek Road
• 11140 Whiteman Creek Road
• Select properties on Whiteman Creek Road (no civic address, please see map)

View a detailed map showing affected properties at cordemergency.ca.

In the Central Okanagan and across BC, the ESS program offers online registration at ess.bc.ca for those on Evacuation Alert or Order. In-person registration will be available for those without computer access or if a power outage affects online services. Even if registered, evacuees in the Central Okanagan who need services (food, lodging, etc.) must visit the Evacuation Reception Centre, 1480 Sutherland Avenue, Kelowna to receive appropriate supplier forms, as evacuees require specific paperwork to access services.

Evacuation Alerts remain in place for all properties accessed from Westside Road between Westshore Estates and Bear Forest Service Road and public lands located north of Bear and Esperon Forest Service Roads. The Evacuation Alert area does not include Traders Cove at this time. View a map showing affected properties at cordemergency.ca/map.

Residents and/or campers within Evacuation Alert areas must be ready to leave at a moment’s notice and be prepared to be away for an extended period including making arrangements for pets and packing essential items such as medicines and important documents.

Emergency Operations Centre staff are working with other response agencies to manage the situation and minimize the impacts; however, affected residents should be prepared to obey an Evacuation Order. Visit cordemergency.ca for information on how to be prepared.

Emergency operations staff will release any new information to the public and media as soon as it becomes available.

Emergency response personnel request that the public:

• Avoid the area so emergency responders can effectively perform their duties.
• Report an emergency, including threat of life, by calling 9-1-1.
• Report wildfires at *5555 on your cell phone
• Visit cordemergency.ca for up-to-date information on the situation, including a map and to sign up for e-updates
• Find updates on twitter.com/CO_Emerg and facebook.com/CORDEmergency

Contact the information line at 250-469-8490 or 1-877-569-8490 toll-free with questions

News Release No. 3, Central Okanagan, B.C.  – The White Rock Lake Wildfire has prompted an Evacuation Alert for the Regional District of the Central Okanagan (RDCO) West Electoral Area.

All properties accessed from Westside Road located between Westshore Estates and Bear Forest Service Road (north of Traders Cove) are on Evacuation Alert. A map showing affected properties can be viewed at cordemergency.ca/map.

All public lands located north of Bear and Esperon Forest Service road(s) are also on Evacuation Alert. Note that Traders Cove IS NOT included in this Evacuation Alert.

Residents and/or campers in the area are advised to be ready to leave their home at a moment’s notice. They should be prepared to be away from their home for an extended period of time, make arrangements for pets and pack essential items such as medicines and important documents.

Emergency Operations Centre staff are working with other response agencies to manage the situation and minimize the impacts, however residents of the area should be prepared to obey an evacuation order. Visit cordemergency.ca for information on how to be prepared.

In the Central Okanagan and across the Province, the Emergency Support Services (ESS) program now offers an an online registration system at ess.bc.ca for those on Evacuation Alert or Order. In-person registration will still be available for those without computer access or in the event of a power outage affecting online services. Even if registered, evacuees in the Central Okanagan who require services (food, lodging, etc.) will still need to visit an Evacuation Reception Centre in order to receive the appropriate supplier forms as specific paperwork is required in order to access these services.

New information will be released to the public and media as soon as it becomes available.

Emergency response personnel request that the public:

• Avoid the area so emergency responders can effectively perform their duties.
• To report an emergency, including threat of life, call 9-1-1.
• To report a wildfire, dial *5555 on your cell phone
• For up-to-date information on the situation, including a map, and to sign up for e-updates, visit cordemergency.ca
• Information will also be provided via twitter.com/CO_Emerg and facebook.com/CORDEmergency
• For more information, contact the information line at 250-469-8490 (local) or 1-877-569-8490 (toll-free)

Media

Global News  Doyle Potenteau Aug 04 • 4:13 PM  (also Vernon Matters) White Rock Lake wildfire showing aggressive behaviour, say emergency officials (with most being in the Central Okanagan regional district. The closest edge of the fire…)

Castanet.net  Wayne Moore (also Daily Courier) Aug 04 • 4:28 PM Half of Westshore Estates residents defying evacuation orders (RDCO and BC Wildfire are battling two fronts pertaining to the White Rock Lake Wildfire.) Vernon Matters  Pete McIntyre August 02 21 • 12:45 PM  (also Global Okanagan, Vernon Morning Star, Castanet, AM 1150) UPDATE Westshore Estates evacuation order due to White Rock Lake Fire (issued on Friday, July 30 for properties in the Regional District of the Central Okanagan…)

Kelowna Capital News August 02 21 • 7:30 PM  (also Castanet, InfoNews, Lake Country Calendar, Daily Courier) UPDATE: Smoke hampers fight to control White Rock Lake wildfire (Columbia Shuswap Regional District, Central Okanagan Regional District and Thompson Nicola…)