Smith Creek Fire

[Symbonite]

thtas even bigger than the 2003 fire....and everyone made a big deal about it in 2003. Bigger fires out there!

[Darlin06]

Holy sh*t!! That's pretty crazy!!!

Winds are picking up again in Glenrosa... Any info on the current size? Has it gotten smaller at all?

[Troy]

The ministry's latest update still says the fire is at 260 hectares and 30% contained. I'm thinking the local public information officer will have more information soon.

Here's the latest from that webcam I've been sharing with you guys:

Smith Creek fire - July 20th, 2014 at 11:57am

[Troy]

Some great news!

The Emergency Operation Centre advises that the Evacuation Order for the Smith Creek Fire has been partially rescinded effective 11 a.m. Sunday, July 20.
Castanet's story.

Update 20 from public information officer:

West Kelowna, B.C. – The Emergency Operation Centre advises that the Evacuation Order for the Smith Creek Fire has been partially rescinded effective 11 a.m. Sunday, July 20. Residents returning to their home will be on Evacuation Alert and should be prepared to leave their homes with little or short notice.

Crews are working hard to return remaining evacuees to their homes as soon as possible. Remaining evacuation orders will be evaluated later today.

The Evacuation Order is rescinded but an Evacuation Alert remains in effect for the following areas:

The following properties in the Smith Creek Neighbourhood including the following roads:
• Asquith Road
• Bridal Hill Court
• Bridal Hill Drive
• Copper Ridge Drive
• Copper Ridge Court
• Copper Ridge Place
• Copper Ridge Way
• Doucette Drive
• Harold Road
• Ironridge Place
• Ironridge Road
• Rhinestone Road
• Shetler Drive
• Sandberg Road
• Sageview Road
• Saddleridge Drive
• Sugosa Place
• Salish Road
• Smith Creek Road
• Stone Ridge Drive
• Summerview Place
• Summerview Court
• Telcor Place
• Twin Place
• Whispering Hills Drive
• Wild Horse Drive

Properties in the Alexandria Neighbourhood including the following roads:
• Alexandria Way
• Shannon Lake Road

A portion of the Tallus Ridge Neighbourhood including the following roads:
• Boulder Lake Boulevard
• Cobblestone Road
• Pebble Place
• Stone Grove Crescent
• Tuscany Drive
• Tallus Ridge Drive

A portion of the Shannon Woods Neighbourhood including the following roads:
• Shannon Woods Drive
• Shannon Woods Place
• Shannon Woods Way
• Shannon Woods Cres,

The Evacuation Order is still in effect for:

Properties in the Smith Creek Neighbourhood including the following roads:
• Dixie Road

The following properties in the Tallus Ridge Neighbourhood including the following roads:
• Big Sky Drive
• Mountains Hollow Lane
• Paramount Drive
• Ryser Place
• Tallus Heights Drive
• Tallus Green Cres,
• Tallus Green Place

The following properties in the Shannon Woods Neighbourhood including the following roads:
• Shannon Hills Drive
• Shannon Hills Place
• Shannon Heights Court,
• Shannon Heights Place

The Evacuation Alerts remain in effect for the following areas:
• Bartley Road
• Lenz Road

For the latest information and updated maps of the evacuation order and evacuation alert visit http://www.cordemergency.ca.

RCMP will be in the area to ensure an orderly re-entry and to enforce road blocks in areas where Evacuation Orders are still in effect. When returning home, be cautious in your neighborhood and watch out for:
• charred power poles and trees that may be unstable and fall.
• live power lines lying on the ground.
• small fires that may flare up without warning.
• ash pits, which are holes filled with hot ash created by burned trees.

Interior Health provides useful information for residents returning to their homes. It deals with exposure to smoke from forest fires, food safety, water quality and septic tanks and disposal fields:

https://www.interiorhealth.ca/YourEnvir ... Fires.aspx

The public is requested to stay out of fire-affected areas for their own safety.

BC Wildfire Management Branch says the fire is 260 hectares in size and 50% contained. Fires contained within the fire perimeter will continue to burn and be visible for several weeks. Residents are asked if they see any fire activity related to the Smith Creek fire, not to call 9-1-1 as crews will still be actively working in the area and monitoring the situation.

For those who remain on evacuation orders, the Emergency Support Services reception centre at Mount Boucherie Senior Secondary School will continue to operate. Residents remaining on Evacuation Order will need to return to the reception center to receive additional food and accommodation vouchers. Volunteers will do their best to process evacuees as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Go to http://www.cordemergency.ca for the latest news and updated maps of the Evacuation Order and Evacuation Alert areas. Read updated posts at http://www.facebook.com/CORDEmergency or follow our tweets at http://www.twitter.com/CO_Emerg. The public information line is 250-469-8490.

A media conference will be held at 12 p.m. at the Main Hall on Enterprise Way in the Courtyard area.

[mr.bandaid]

Thanks to all emergency workers for their hard work! Weird to be on the other side of the coin. I know how tough you guys and gals work and it is much appreciated.

[prairieflower]

I am glad people get to go home, but worry wart me just watched a new large plume of smoke go up at the west end. I sincerely hope the winds do not pick up again...

[TreeGuy]

I am glad people get to go home, but worry wart me just watched a new large plume of smoke go up at the west end. I sincerely hope the winds do not pick up again...

We just watched that as well, that was a big column of dark smoke. Looks to be just on the edge of the burnt area.

[Troy]

For those that missed it, here is the video from our live coverage of today's media conference that was held at 12 p.m. at the Main Hall on Enterprise Way in the Courtyard area:

[Troy]

I'm seeing a few smaller plumes of smoke up the mountain:

Smith Creek fire - July 20th, 2014 at 12:56pm

[Darlin06]

I've seen quite a few up here in the last little bit. The smell is also much stronger than it has been since Thursday... Not too sure which way the wind is blowing... But I had to close the windows :(

[Troy]

The Central Okanagan Emergency Operations sent out a couple of tweets this afternoon:

#SmithCreekFire is still active & reminder to stay out of the area for safety reasons & to ensure emergency responders can perform duties

Those still on #SmithCreekFire Evacuation Orders should to return to the ESS reception center today to receive additional vouchers.

[Troy]

Update 21 from the public information officer:
Sunday, July 20, 2014 2:39:00 PM

West Kelowna, B.C. – The Smith Creek Fire is still active and the public is reminded to stay out of the area for safety reasons and to ensure emergency responders can effectively perform their duties. The Evacuation Order area, including parks, trails and public and private lands, remains closed to the public.

The Evacuation Order has been partially lifted for more than 900 homes and approximately 2,000 residents in parts of the Smith Creek, Tallus Ridge and Shannon Woods neighbourhoods and for those living on Alexandria Way. Those residents returning to their homes remain on Evacuation Alert and are advised to pay attention to warning and road closure signs in the parts of their neighbourhoods that remain on Evacuation Order.

Approximately 500 people from 222 homes in Smith Creek, Tallus Ridge and Shannon Woods remain on Evacuation Order. For a complete list of roads that remain on Evacuation Order, please go to http://www.cordemergency.ca. The site also provides an interactive map of the Evacuation Order and Evacuation Alert areas.

Those residents remaining on Evacuation Order should report back to the Emergency Reception Centre at Mount Boucherie Secondary School. The centre remains open until 9 p.m. Sunday, July 20 and will reopen at 9 a.m. Monday, July 21.

BC Wildfire Management Branch reports that the fire is 260 hectares in size and 50% contained. Conditions of the fire and weather conditions affecting the blaze are subject to change; those residents returning to their homes should be ready to leave at a moment’s notice should conditions change.

Fires contained within the fire perimeter will continue to burn and be visible for several weeks. Residents are asked if they see any fire activity related to the Smith Creek fire, not to call 9-1-1 as crews will still be actively working in the area and monitoring the situation.

[westbanker]

and the Darwins are back....! Watching a moron right now rip his motorbike up & down, doing laps around the high voltage feeder line that feeds Peachland, and there is an osprey perched atop of the pole freaking out. Signs all around no motorized vehicles, and somehow he found more friends who just arrived that sanction this ... they conveniently never seem to do this during by-law operating hours...

[Troy]

Latest photo from the webcam:

Smith Creek fire - July 20th, 2014 at 6:28pm

[Catz]

So, that would be where it started? Lots of smoke and air craft in the area.