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The original item was published from 2/21/2022 1:16:42 PM to 8/6/2022 12:00:00 AM.
News Flash
CSRD News
Posted on: August 5, 2021[ARCHIVED] Update - White Rock Lake Fire - 19:15 Hours
Thursday, August 5, 2021
19:25 Hours
- Winds have come up and fire behaviour has become increasingly aggressive. The situation is extremely dangerous and increasingly volatile.
- Fire has crossed Highway 97 south of Monte Lake and strong winds continue to push the fires northeast towards the Falkland area.
- The top priority for the BC Wildfire Service is human life and safety. If you have received an Evacuation Order, please leave the area immediately.
- For other travellers, please try to stay off the roads as much as possible. Evacuees are being impeded by congestion and other drivers attempting to get around the road closures.
- There is a power outage in the Evacuation Order area in Falkland at this time.
- On the northeast flank, crews will continue to protect and secure the guard west of Westwold. Crews and heavy equipment are also working south of Westwold to secure containment from Adelphi Road to Wood Lake. Heavy machinery is also working on building a contingency guard further north of the fire perimeter.
- This includes: 136 wildland firefighters, 99 of which are from Quebec, 125 structure protection personnel, 13 helicopters, 10 danger tree assessors/fallers, 43 pieces of heavy equipment, seven support staff and a BC Wildfire Service Incident Management Team.
- The structure protection branch consists of 125 structure protection personnel from 25 different fire departments. Fire department personnel are remaining on site overnight to ensure 24-hour coverage for Structure Protection.
- Structural protection personnel have completed a full assessment from Monte Lake towards the Falkland Corridor via Highway 97, as well as along Westside Road. Structure protection personnel are prepared to defend Westwold, Falkland, Cedar Hills, Pinaus Lake, and communities along Westside Road, including Okanagan Indian Band IR#1.
- Structure protection units can be effective in reducing wildfire threats to some types of building, however, defending structures from a wildland fire will not be possible in every situation.
