UPDATE: Spallumcheen lifts evacuation order and reduces alert

(Image credit: Township of Spallumcheen)

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(Image credit: Township of Spallumcheen)

The White Rock Lake fire remains close to Township of Spallumcheen borders and residents should be prepared for quickly changing situations.
residents are advised to monitor the Township of Spallumcheen website, BC Wildfire website and DriveBC for updates on alerts, orders, wildfire changes and road closures.

UPDATE 2:00 p.m. Aug. 17

There is no change to the Evacuation Order or Alert areas for the Township of Spallumcheen. The next regular update will take place at 6:00 p.m.

There is a temporary access permit process for people requiring ESSENTIAL access to the Evacuation Order area.

“Emergency operations staff will review all access requests and review identifiable risks in the order area. There are situations where an access permit may not be approved based on the identifiable risks in the area,” said a news release from the township.

You can get more information on the process on the township’s website.

“We would like to say thank you to all the First Responders, volunteers, City of Armstrong, Regional District North Okanagan, City of Vernon and all other agencies that assisted with the safe evacuation of our residents on the evening of August 15,” a news release from the township stated.

Click here to read the full news release.

UPDATE 6:30 p.m.

There is no change to the Evacuation Order or Alert areas for the Township of Spallumcheen as of 6:00 p.m.

The next regular update will take place at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday.

Click here for the full release.

UPDATE 10:30 a.m. Aug. 16

The Township of Spallumcheen says there is no changes to its evacuation order and alert at this point.

Click here to to read the township’s latest news release.

UPDATE: Spallumcheen issues EVACUATION ORDER and new alert area
Aug 15, 2021 | 9:30 PM

Properties that were under an evacuation alert in Spallumcheen are now under an evacuation order, and more homes have been put on alert.

The township issued the order at 5:20 p.m. Sunday due to “immediate danger to life safety caused by the White Rock Lake fire.”

Members of the RCMP and other agencies will be expediting the action.

Properties have until 10 p.m. to leave their homes.

The Evacuation Order is in effect for the following areas:

• Round Lake Rd

• Grandview Flats Rd (south side)

• Grandview Flats Rd North • Grandview Flats Rd South

• Page Rd • Miller Rd

• Evans Rd

• Corkscrew Rd

• Otter Lake Rd south of Grandview Flats Rd • (1401 Otter Lake Rd and lower)

• St Anne’s Rd

• Larkin Cross Rd

• Clinton Rd

• Pine Ridge Rd

• Pine Ridge Pl

• Larkin Pl

• Otter Lake Cross Rd • (the west side, south of 705)

• 1239 Thomas Hays Rd

• 9221 to 9728 Highway 97

• Golfview Place

• Northwind Drive

• Mendenhall Rd

• Overlook Pl

• Stepping Stones Rd

• Stepping Stones Cres

• 8400 Old Kamloops Rd

• L&A Cross Rd

(The areas under evacuation alert are further down this page)

(Image credit: Township of Spallumcheen)

YOU MUST LEAVE THE AREA IMMEDIATELY.

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO:
• Follow the travel route provided and register at: Vernon Recreation Centre Dogwood Gym 3310 37 Ave Vernon BC
• If you need transportation assistance from the area, advise the person providing this notice
or call 250-546-3013.
• Shut off all gas and electrical appliances, other than refrigerators and freezers.
• Close all windows and doors.
• Close gates (latch) but do not lock.
• Gather your family and, if you have room, take a neighbour or someone needing transportation. Do not use more vehicles then you have to.
• Take critical items (medicine, purse, wallet, and keys) only if they are immediately available. Take pets in pet kennels or on leash.
• Do not use the telephone unless you need emergency service.
Further information will be posted on the Township website at www.spallumcheentwp.bc.ca.

Evacuation alert for Spallumcheen

UPDATE: 11:00 a.m. Aug. 15

The current Evacuation Alert area for Spallumcheen remains the same.

The following update was issued by the township at 10:00 a.m. Sunday:

Shifting winds has caused heavy smoke to roll into the community throughout the day yesterday. Please monitor air quality and amend your outdoor activities appropriately. Air Quality –Environment Canada Website.

Ash can still be seen falling into the community this morning. We ask residents to be vigilant in walking around your property and monitoring for potential hot spots. Along with the Armstrong Spallumcheen Fire Chief, Emergency Operation Staff ask that you “Help us help you” by fire smarting your properties. Please look around your property and ensure you have performed a fire smart clean up. More information on what this looks like can be found at the FireSmart BC website.
Additional resources to prepare your home and your family can be found on the Township of Spallumcheen website – Emergency Information page including preparing a grab and go bag and a 72 hour kit.

An Evacuation Alert means that this is the time to get prepared to leave your home on short notice and be prepared to potentially not be home for some time.

The Township of Spallumcheen remains activated as an Emergency Operation Centre level 2 in response to the White Rock Lake wildfire.
The Provincial government webpage has good general information for emergency evacuees and guidance for the public. At this time, Spallumcheen has no Evacuation Orders in place, however, this general guidance may help to answer questions you have including what to do if you are currently quarantined or have COVID-19 and are put on an Evacuation Order.

Residents that are located in the above noted Evacuation Alert area are able to pre-register online at https://ess.gov.bc.ca. By registering online, it will save residents considerable time and effort when accessing Emergency Social Services should they be evacuated.
There is limited capacity at reception centres so pre-registering will assist staff and residents should we move to an evacuation order. Due to Okanagan hotels having limited resources communities are recommending that residents stay with family and friends where they are able to do so.

As of Sunday morning, the White Rock Lake wildfire was estimated at 62,273 hectares, an increase of more than 4,000 hectares from Saturday.

UPDATE: Fire department patrolling Spallumcheen alert area over weekend
Aug 14, 2021 | 1:00 PM

The Township of Spallumcheen issued an update to say the current evacuation alert area remains the same, with no other changes.

Click here to read the full update.

The BC Wildfire Service is estimating the White Rock Lake fire size at 58,000 hectares, same as Friday.

UPDATE 7:00 p.m.

The Township of Spallumcheen has activated its Emergency Operation Centre to a level 2 in response to the White Rock Lake wildfire.

Residents that are located in the earlier announced Evacuation Alert area able to pre-register online at https://ess.gov.bc.ca. By registering online, it will save residents considerable time and effort when accessing Emergency Social Services should they be evacuated.
There is limited capacity at reception centres so pre-registering will assist staff and residents should we move to an evacuation order.

Due to Okanagan hotels having limited resources communities are recommending that residents stay with family and friends B.C.’s wildfire officials are asking everyone to avoid non-essential travel to some regions of the province due to the heightened threat of wildfires. This area includes Spallumcheen, Armstrong, Enderby and the Okanagan Indian Band. The full article can be read on the Vernon Matters website.

The next scheduled update will be Saturday August 14, 2021 at 10:00 hrs

UPDATE 2:00 p.m.

The Township of Spallumcheen is continuing with the same evacuation area, based on a recommendation by the BC Wildfire Service.

The following information was posted in a township news release:

“The Armstrong Spallumcheen Fire Chief met with BC Wildfire this morning. At the request of BC Wildfire, the local fire department will be patrolling the current Evacuation Alert area throughout
the weekend on a 24 hour basis.
BC Wildfire is taking the potential of fire spread very seriously and though the fire is not at Spallumcheen borders currently, forecasted wind and weather events this weekend may require expanded Evacuation Alert areas and the potential for Evacuation Orders.
Please ensure that you monitor the Township of Spallumcheen website for updates and local media sources to ensure accurate and up-to-date information.”

The Evacuation Alert area remains:
• Round lake Rd
• Grandview Flats Rd (south side)
• Grandview Flats Rd North
• Grandview Flats Rd South
• Page Rd
• Miller Rd
• Evans Rd
• Corkscrew Rd
• Otter Lake Rd south of Grandview Flats Rd (1401 Otter Lake Rd and lower)
• St Anne’s Rd
• Larkin Cross Rd
• Clinton Rd
• Pine Ridge Rd
• Pine Ridge Pl
• Larkin Pl
• Otter Lake Cross Rd
• (the west side, south of 705)
• 1239 Thomas Hays Rd
• 9221 to 9728 Highway 97
• Golfview Place
• Northwind Drive
• Mendenhall Rd
• Overlook Pl
• Stepping Stones Rd
• Stepping Stones Cres
• 8400 Old Kamloops Rd
• L&A Cross Rd

Residents DO NOT need to evacuate at this time. Wait for an Evacuation order to be issued before you leave the area.
Resources for preparing a grab-and-go back and preparing to evacuate in an emergency can be found on the Township of Spallumcheen website.
The size of the fire is changing constantly please go to BC Wildfire website for the most recent updates.

Meantime, Splatsin is extending the evacuation alert for its Salmon River IR#1 until further notice.

#Splatsin EOC Update 13: Kukpi7 provides a video update about the fire situation. Evac Alert for IR1 extended due to the White Rock Lake Fire. Evac Plan available. Read more: https://t.co/dtAWy4mNwP #Secwepemc pic.twitter.com/lrgcuBa3CR

— Splatsin (@Splatsinfn) August 13, 2021

UPDATE: 10:30 a.m. Aug. 13

Spallumcheen has issued an update on its evacuation alert covering several hundred properties in the township, saying there is no change to the alert, and the areas covered (see below for list).

The township will issue another update at 2 this afternoon.

UPDATE: 7:00 p.m.

The Township of Spallumcheen issued a news release to say the evacuation alert issued earlier today remains in effect and there is no change to the areas covered.

Updates will be issued as they become available. The next scheduled update by the township will be Friday, August 13, at 10:00 a.m.

More properties added to Spallumcheen evacuation alert
Aug 12, 2021 | 10:57 AM

More properties in Spallumcheen have been put on evacuation alert due to the White Rock Lake wildfire which has been showing increased activity the last couple days.

This is an updated list of the properties under the ALERT:

• Round lake Rd
• Grandview Flats Rd (south side)
• Grandview Flats Rd North
• Grandview Flats Rd South
• Page Rd
• Miller Rd
• Evans Rd
• Corkscrew Rd
• Otter Lake Rd south of
Grandview Flats Rd
(1401 Otter Lake Rd and lower)
• St Anne’s Rd
• Larkin Cross Rd
• Clinton Rd
• Pine Ridge Rd
• Pine Ridge Pl
• Larkin Pl
• Otter Lake Cross Rd
(the west side, south of 705)
• 1239 Thomas Hays Rd
• 9221 to 9728 Highway 97
• Golfview Place
• Northwind Drive
• Mendenhall Rd
• Overlook Pl
• Stepping Stones Rd
• Stepping Stones Cres
• 8400 Old Kamloops Rd
• L&A Cross R

Evacuation alert area in Spallumcheen (Image credit: Township of Spallumcheen)

The alert is based on a recommendation by the BC Wildfire Service.

The alert means residents of those addresses should be prepared to leave their homes on short notice if an evacuation order is issued.

“Get your grab-and-go bags ready (which should include several days of clothing, toiletries and medications), your emergency plan, copies of important documents and important mementos. You DO NOT need to evacuate at this time. Wait for an Evacuation order to be issued before you leave the area,” said a news release from the township.

The White Rock Lake Fire has grown about 1,500 hectares since Wednesday and the south flank moved 1.5 km’s south last night and is now 4 km’s from Fintry.

The most eastern tip in Naswhito Creek is just west of Banks Road.

The following is a news release issued earlier by the Township of Spallumcheen:

News release from Township of Spallumcheen (Submitted)

by Pete McIntyre

UPDATE: Spallumcheen lifts evacuation order and reduces alert

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