Smith Fire Update #4 from @CO_emerg

 

News Release No. 4

Date:     July 17, 2014

Time:    16:45 p.m.

 

West Kelowna, B.C. – An evacuation order has been expanded to include the Smith Creek Neighbourhood, Tallus Ridge Estates, Alexandria Way and Shannon Woods.

 

Evacuees should report to the Emergency Reception Centre set up at Lakeview Heights Baptist Church at 2630 Alhambra Drive, near the intersection of Highway 97 and Hudson Road.

 

Residents needing transportation assistance are required to contact 250-469-8490. Residents should close windows and doors, shut off all gas and electrical appliances except fridges and freezers. Gather family and pets, on leash, and take only key items like wallet, purse, keys and medicine.

 

A home and outbuilding that was shrouded in smoke and previously thought lost in the blaze was saved by helicopter bucketing crews.

 

The fire is currently 3.4 hectares and is burning east above the Smith Creek subdivision.

 

The fire was first reported at approximately 1:40 this afternoon.

 

All residents living west of the Bennett Bridge are asked to limit household water use and shutoff outdoor irrigation use to keep pressure and supply available for emergency crews fighting the fire.

 

New information including maps of evacuations will be released to the public through the media and www.cordemergency.ca as soon as it becomes available.

 

Emergency response personnel request that the public:

 

·          Avoid the Smith Creek area so emergency responders can effectively perform their duties.

·          Monitor www.cordemergency.ca, www.facebook.com/CORDEmergency,  orwww.twitter.com/CO_Emerg  for confirmed information about the situation

·          Please only CALL 911 in case of emergency.

New information including maps of evacuations will be released to the public through the media and www.cordemergency.ca as soon as it becomes available.

 

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