An EVACUATION ORDER remains in effect for 319 properties in the Heritage Hills area south of Penticton in Electoral Area “D” in the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS) due to the Christie Mountain Wildfire.
An Emergency Support Services (ESS) Reception Centre has been opened at 199 Ellis St, Penticton, BC. The Reception Centre volunteers assisted over 110 people that registered for ESS services last night. Residents in the Evacuation Order area that have not yet registered at the Reception Centre are asked to go online to ess.gov.bc.ca to pre-register to make sure they are safe and have access to ESS services across the Province. Due to COVID 19, social distancing rules will be required to be followed onsite.
On August 18, the RDOS and City of Penticton additionally placed more than 3700 properties on Evacuation Alert in south east Penticton, Upper Carmi and one property on Eastside Rd north of Heritage Hills. Residents affected by the Evacuation Alert are asked to stay calm and prepare to leave their homes as required. An Evacuation Alert is intended to allow people time to prepare their identification documents, medications, change of clothes and make plans with family members so they can leave their homes quickly and safely.
Residents in an Evacuation Alert may pre-register with ESS using ess.gov.bc.ca but only residents on Evacuation Order are asked to go to a Reception Centre. Residents under an Evacuation Alert are asked to not go in person to Reception Centres.
There are several ways people can help. One is to not drive to areas to get a better view of the fire. Clogging streets with cars can cause accidents and reduce the ability for first responders to access emergency response areas. Also please keep boats off of Skaha Lake. Water bombers and helicopters will be accessing water from the lake. Boats create safety issues for these aircrafts trying to save homes.
Residents under an Evacuation Order or Alert can now register with Emergency Support Services: https://ess.gov.bc.ca/ This site increases the speed of ESS services for potential evacuees.
Please visit the RDOS EOC website for resource links and information updates: https://emergency.rdos.bc.ca/resources/
Interactive Map of RDOS Evacuation Orders and Alerts:
https://emergency.rdos.bc.ca/interactive-map/
CivicReady® Mass Notification System – sign up for routine and emergency notifications: https://emergency.rdos.bc.ca/civic-ready/
Pet owners and hobby farmers with concerns for their animals can contact:
Animal Emergency Response Team (ALERT) can help, call (250) 809 – 7152