Provisions for Predator Ridge wildfire alarm approved by Vernon Council

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At the June 27 meeting, Vernon City Council received a follow-up delegation regarding the siren.

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The presentation indicated several provisions that need to be confirmed before full support could be given, including that the initiative would be conducted as a three year pilot project; that PRCEMC would assist the Vernon Fire Rescue Services Emergency Program with public communication of the siren and have a communication strategy in place before the siren is installed; that clear signage is installed at key locations throughout the community and golf course to provide information about the siren and its use; to conduct system tests in April, May, June, July, August and September of each year; and to have the service in place no sooner than April 1, 2023, to provide staff with enough time to ensure all supporting systems, training, processes and communication plans can be implemented.

During the June 27 meeting, Councillor Scott Anderson inquired about the testing in the spring and summer months, and was reassured that they would be ‘growler tests,’ which involve a slow rotation to ensure the mechanisms are working properly. These tests would only provide low-volume sounds and not cause any concern to the public.

Administration is also going to meet with PRCEMC in the coming weeks to work out other specific details of the project before moving forward with the proposed implementation.

The motion to support the operation of the emergency siren in Predator Ridge, pending further consultations to meet the provisions, was approved unanimously by council.

Following the meeting, Mayor Victor Cumming told Vernon Matters the siren would only be used when absolutely necessary.

“The community members up there in Predator Ridge are funding it. There will be a siren for very extreme conditions that will be operated by our Emergency Operations Centre down here in Vernon if there is a wildfire, primarily is what they want it for,” said Cumming.

He noted Predator Ridge sees a lot of visitors, which is backed up by the PRCMEC presentation that states up to 3,400 people can be in the Predator Ridge or Sparkling Hill areas on any given day in the summer, who will need to be quickly warned if an emergency arises.

“It’s really important that if they get a wildfire that’s going to threaten that community then people will want to know about it right away.”

The range of the siren covers the Predator Ridge community, the golf course and Sparkling Hill Resort, but will not be audible in communities beyond.

“It’s important because it is a resort area, it’s not just people in homes, it’s a resort area and many visitors who might just be there [to golf, hike, bike, or visit] for the day and may or may not be staying in accommodation, so it’s really important that people get notified quickly if there’s a real emergency,” Cumming explained.