FULL UPDATE: Tourists urged to stay away from Okanagan Valley

YOU BACK TO KELOWNA WHERE WE ARE HEARING MORE ABOUT THE WILDFIRE SITUATION THERE. LET’S LISTEN IN. >> I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE MEMBERS OF THE OFFICIALS AND STAFF AT THE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTRE AS WELL FOR THEIR GUIDANCE AND OVERSIGHT AND THE VOLUNTEERS AT THE EMERGENCY’S SUPPORT SERVICES AT ROYAL LEPAGE PLACE.

THEY ARE DOING AN AWESOME JOB. I REALLY APPRECIATE THEIR CARING SERVICE. THEY ARE LOOKING AFTER THE TEMPORARY NEEDS AND SOME OF THE SPECIAL NEEDS OF OUR RESIDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN EVACUATED. I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO THINK PREMIER AND MINISTER BOWINN MA FOR THEIR CONTINUED SUPPORT. MUCH APPRECIATED.

AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THINK THE MEDIA. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR COVERAGE AND FOR HELPING TO INFORM OUR PUBLIC OF THE SITUATION. FINALLY I WANT TO RECOGNIZE AND THANK THE MANY ORGANIZATIONS AND BUSINESSES WITHIN WEST KELOWNA WHO HAVE STEPPED UP TO HELP OUR

RESIDENTS IN NEED AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME. AND ALTHOUGH THERE IS MUCH MORE HARD WORK AHEAD OF US, WE WILL OVERCOME THIS WILDFIRE AND WE WILL RECOVER. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY A FEW WORDS. >> THANK YOU. NOW NEXT SPEAKER. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. [ Speaking Indigenous Language

I AM PLEASED TO SAY A FEW WORDS FROM ALL OF THE RESIDENTS ON THE WEST SIDE. THIS FIRE HAS BEEN A VERY HARROWING EXPERIENCE FOR EVERYONE. I AM GRATEFUL THERE HAS BEEN NO CONFIRMED LOSS OF LIFE THAT WE KNOW OF AND WE HOPE THIS REMAINS. VERY DEVASTATING FOR THE LOSS OF

PROPERTY AND THE IMPACT ON BUSINESSES THAT HAS OCCURRED. THERE IS LOTS OF COLLECTIVE GRIEF AND HIGH EMOTIONS. AND -ITE TOO EXTEND MY SUIT — SINCERE BEST WISHES AND THOUGHTFULNESS TO ALL THOSE WHO HAVE LOST THEIR HOMES AND BUSINESSES AND HAVING THEIR LIVES DISRUPTED AS IT IS. I CAN ONLY ASK AND CERTAINLY BE

AS CALM AS YOU CAN, BE PATIENT AND REMAIN DILIGENT. I AM VERY GRATEFUL. I GIVE THANKS TO ALL OF THE EMERGENCY PERSONNEL. ALL OF THE FIRST RESPONDERS, THE RCMP, ALL OF THE VOLUNTEERS AND ALL OF THOSE WHO ARE INVOLVED TO PROTECT THE LIVES AND PROPERTY OF EVERYONE THAT IS IMPACTED ON THIS FIRE.

I AM ESPECIALLY GRATEFUL FOR THE FIREFIGHTERS AND THE HELICOPTERS WHO HELPED PRESERVE A NUMBER OF OUR HOMES IN THE COMMUNITY HERE YESTERDAY. THEY WORKED FURIOUSLY, PROVIDING THAT SUPPORT AND I AM SURE WRIST MUCH TO DO WHAT THEY DID. I AM CERTAINLY, CERTAINLY GRATEFUL. I’M GRATEFUL FOR THE 41 FIRETRUCKS AN ARMY OF

FIREFIGHTING PERSONNEL BECAUSE YOU HAVE DONE A LOT TO SAVE MANY OF THE HOMES AND PROPERTIES IN WEST KELOWNA. I WANT TO INDICATE THAT OUR UTILITIES DEPARTMENT ON NUMBER 10 HALVED REMOVED THE CHLORINE GAS TONERS YESTERDAY FOR SAFETY REASONS FROM THE POTENTIAL FIRE. THIS HAS RESULTED IN THE FACT

THAT WATER IS NOT SAFE TO DRINK RIGHT NOW, BUT IT IS FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL RESIDENTS SO THIS WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL WE CAN REINSTALL THE CHLORINE GAS TONERS. I WANT TO SAY AS WELL WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER AS ONE OVERALL COMMUNITY, BE AT THE WESTBANK FIRST NATION, WEST KELOWNA, THE

CITY OF KELOWNA, IT BE THE PROVINCE AND EVERYONE IN THE CRISIS IN THE SITUATION. I AM GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF THAT HAPPENING. I WANT TO INDICATE OUR WESTLAKE GYMNASIUM IS OPEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC FOR ACCOMMODATION AND FOOD AND EMERGENCY SERVICES AND WE WILL DO THE BEST WE CAN TO

ASSIST ANYONE WHO IS IN NEED. I TOO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO RESPECT THE EVACUATIONS WHEN IT DOES HAPPEN. IT IS FOR YOUR OWN SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF THOSE WHO ARE THERE TO PROTECT YOU. I KNOW WE ARE MUCH DEPENDENT ON THE WINDS AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT CREATES EVEN MORE

DEVASTATION AND CERTAINLY MY PEOPLE, MYSELF, PRAY TO OUR GREAT CREATOR TO ALLOW THE WINDS TO RESIDE TO A CALMNESS. AND I WANT TO THANK ALL OF OUR PEOPLE, ALL STAFF AND PERSONNEL FOR THEIR HARD WORK AND TIRELESS TIME AND LITTLE TO NO SLEEP. ALL THE FIRST NATION RESPONDERS AND EMERGENCY PERSONNEL.

YOU HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB. ALL PEOPLE WHO PROVIDED EQUIPMENT AND FIREFIGHTING SERVICES, I SAY THANKS. FOR EVERYONE. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY A FEW WORDS. >> NEXT WE HAVE A MAYOR. >> GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. AS WE ALL KNOW THE LAST 48 HOURS HAVE BEEN A VERY DIFFICULT TIME

FOR THE CITIZENS OF KELOWNA, WEST KELOWNA, LAKE COUNTRY, ARE FIRST NATIONS AND ALL OF THE COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE CENTRAL OKANAGAN. AND AS WE HAVE HEARD FROM OUR FIRE CHIEFS, IT IS NOT OVER YET. THERE IS STILL A LOT OF WORK WE NEED TO DO TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS SAFE.

AND ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES I WANT TO EXTEND MY SYMPATHY TO ALL THOSE CITIZENS WHO ARE DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY THE EVENTS OF THE LAST 48 HOURS AND ASK FOR THEIR PATIENTS AND AWARENESS BECAUSE WE STILL HAVE A LITTLE MORE OF A JOURNEY TO GO. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY STRESSFUL

TIME FOR ALL THOSE INVOLVED AND OUR THOUGHTS ARE WITH ALL OF OUR CITIZENS. IN KELOWNA ALONE THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 5053 PROPERTIES ON ALERT AND 2057 PROPERTIES THAT ARE UNDER ORDERS. MEETING PEOPLE HAVE HAD TO LEAVE THEIR HOMES. WHILE THE IMMEDIATE FOCUS IS ON FIGHTING THE FIRE, WE DO HAVE ADVANCED PLANNING TEAMS WORKING

ON RECOVERY PLANS AND MORE INFORMATION WILL BE AVAILABLE IN THE COMING DAYS WITH REGARDS TO INDIVIDUAL STRUCTURES. I WANT TO THANK ALL OF OUR FIRST RESPONDERS AND SUPPORT STAFF WHO ARE WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK ON THE FIRES THROUGHOUT THE CENTRAL OKANAGAN. AND ESPECIALLY I WOULD LIKE TO THINK OUR FIRE CHIEFS, EMERGENCY

SUPPORT SERVICES, EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTRE AND ALL OF THOSE WORKING TO FIGHT THE FIRE THEMSELVES. ALL OF THOSE FIRST RESPONDERS WHO AS WE GET FURTHER AND FURTHER INTO THIS OBVIOUSLY ARE FEELING TIRED WITH RESPECT TO WHAT THEY ARE DOING BUT CONTINUE TO WORK THROUGH IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FROM ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES.

WE’VE HAD AN OVERWHELMING RESPONSE FROM OTHER LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT AND JURISDICTIONS AND WE COULDN’T BE MORE GRATEFUL. PREMIER ABBY, MINISTER, AND MLA, EMILY BEN STEWART — MLA BEN STEWART, MINISTER VON, ALL HAVE BEEN REACHING OUT TO FIND WHAT THEY CAN DO TO HELP OUR COMMUNITIES GET THROUGH THIS.

EVERYONE IS DOING WHAT THEY CAN TO KEEP RESIDENTS SAFE AND LOOK OUT FOR THE BEST INTERESTS IN THESE TRYING TIMES. FOR ACCURATE INFORMATION, AS MANY HAVE SAID HERE REGARDING THE FIRES INCLUDING EVACUATION ALERTS AND ERRED — ORDERS, PLEASE GO TO EMERGENCY.CA AND FOR SPECIFIC IMPACTS TO THE CITY OF KELOWNA AND SERVICES, PLEASE

VISIT KELOWNA.CA. CURRENTLY THE KELOWNA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, GLENMORE LANDFILL, KNOX MOUNTAIN PARK AND THE OTHER MOUNTAIN PARK REMAIN CLOSED. I CAN’T STRESS ENOUGH THAT INFORMATION IS EXTREMELY FLUID SO PLEASE VISIT THE ABOVE CHANNELS FOR ACCURATE AND UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION AS WE HAVE ALL BEEN MENTIONING. LOTS OF PEOPLE ARE ASKING HOW THEY CAN HELP.

PLEASE CHECK IN WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND IF YOU HAVE SPECIFIC SPACE TO OFFER TO THOSE WHO ARE EVACUATED, THERE IS VERY LITTLE HOTEL SPACE. THIS WILL BE A TRYING TIME AS IT WAS BACK IN 2003 FROM AN INDIVIDUAL HEALTH STANDPOINT AND ALSO WHEN IT COMES TO STRUCTURES AND THE LOSS THEY HAVE

ENCOURAGED. IF YOU KNOW INDIVIDUALS OR ARE WITH INDIVIDUALS PLEASE BE WITH THEM. OBEY EVACUATION ORDERS AND STAY OUT OF ACTIVE FIRED ZONES. AS WAS MENTIONED NUMEROUS TIMES VOTERS, PLEASE AVOID THE AREA OF WILLIAM R. BENNETT BRIDGE TO CONTINUE TO STAY SAFE AND WORK IN THOSE AREAS. AND SHARE ACCURATE INFORMATION

YOU HAVE FROM COURT EMERGENCY.CA. WE CONTINUE TO ASK PEOPLE TO AVOID TRAVEL TO THE CENTRAL OKANAGAN INCLUDING KELOWNA. THE NEXT FEW DAYS ARE CRITICAL FOR OUR COMMUNITY. WE WILL LET YOU KNOW WHEN IT IS SAFE TO VISIT US AND WE WELCOME YOU AT THAT TIME AND APPRECIATE YOUR UNDERSTANDING THAT DURING

THIS TIME WE NEED YOU TO JUST STAY AWAY FROM THE CENTRAL OKANAGAN SO WE CAN DEAL WITH THE FIRES AND OUR ROADS ARE NOT CLOGGED AND HOTELS ARE AVAILABLE FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN EVACUATED FROM THEIR HOMES. WHILE THESE LAST FEW DAYS IN THE DAYS AHEAD ARE GOING TO BE

CHALLENGING I KNOW FROM EXPERIENCE TOGETHER THIS COMMUNITY, THIS REGION, IS STRONG ENOUGH AND WE WILL SURVIVE AND WE WILL REBUILD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU MAYOR TOM. NEXT WE HAVE MAYOR BLAIR IRELAND. >> GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. I AM THE MAYOR OF LAKE COUNTRY AND OUR FIRE CHIEF COULD NOT

ATTEND TODAY SO AS HE IS OUT THERE, TRYING TO DO THE BEST FOR OUR COMMUNITIES. IT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT FOR HIM TO BE THERE AND NOT ANSWERING QUESTIONS AND DEALING WITH THAT SORT OF THING. CHALLENGES HAVE BEEN REALLY STRUGGLING OVERNIGHT AND CREWS ARE WORKING HARD BUT THE WIND IS

SUPER CHALLENGING AND I LIVE ON THE WATER AND HAVE WITNESSED THIS EVERY DAY. WE HAVE LOST STRUCTURES AND OKANAGAN CENTRE. WE CANNOT GET INTO THE DETAILS. THEY ARE PRESENTLY FIGHTING FIRES ALL AROUND THE AREA AND TRYING TO SAVE THEM. I VISITED THE FIRE TEAM BRIEFLY LAST NIGHT AND LAST NIGHT THEY

WERE OVERWORKED AND THEY ARE CONTINUING TO WORK HARD. SO WE WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE OTHER FIRE DEPARTMENTS FROM ALL OVER THE PROVINCE WHO HAVE COME FROM AS FAR AWAY AS VANCOUVER ISLAND, PULLING UP ON A FERRY TO GET HERE TO HELP US. THAT IS REALLY APPRECIATED.

AND IT’S NOT JUST THE FIREFIGHTERS. POLICE HAVE ALSO COME. AND RIGHT NOW IN OUR COMMUNITY WE NEED THOSE POLICE. WE HAVE A LOT OF ACTIVITY IN OUR AREA. LOTS OF PEOPLE TRYING TO VISIT AND GET VIEWS OF HOUSES. WE HAVE A LOT OF BOAT TRAFFIC. I PERSONALLY WITNESSED THE RCMP

CHASING YACHTS AWAY FROM THE AREA THAT ARE CRUISING UP AND DOWN THIS MORNING. VERY FRUSTRATING THAT THEY HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION TO THAT SORT OF THING. THEY ARE HERE TO LOOK AFTER COMMUNITIES AND PEOPLE AND US. SO PLEASE STAY AWAY PEOPLE. YOU CAN SEE THE FIRE ON TV.

IT’S NOT THAT GREAT, TRUST ME. WE WILL TRY TO INFORM PEOPLE AS SOON AS WE CAN ABOUT THE STRUCTURES THAT HAVE BEEN AFFECTED. BUT WE URGE THEM TO BE PATIENT. WE NEED TO KEEP DOING WHAT WE’RE DOING AND FOCUSING ON THE GOAL OF TRYING TO PROTECT EVERYBODY SO WE APPRECIATE IT IS VERY

STRESSFUL NOT TO KNOW. BUT PLEASE BE PATIENT AND HANG IN THERE AND WE WILL TRY TO GET TO YOU AS SOON AS WE CAN. ON A SLIGHTLY POSITIVE NOTE WE WERE ABLE TO SAVE QUITE A FEW STRUCTURES AND OKANAGAN CENTRE BECAUSE OF THE RECENT WATER MAIN UPGRADE.

WE HAD A REALLY OLD WATER MAIN IN THAT AREA THAT WASN’T PROVIDING PROPER FIRE FLOW AND REALLY LITERALLY TWO WEEKS AGO IT WAS COMMISSIONED AND WORKING AND THAT INCREASED PRESSURE SAVED A LOT OF HOMES. SO WE WERE QUITE LUCKY THERE. WE WANT TO ALSO SAY A BIG THANK

YOU TO ALL OF OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES WHO HAVE KICKED IN AND HELPED OUT AND THEY WERE HELPING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THEY CONTINUE TO HELP AND WE REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. I THINK A LOT OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID BEFORE THAT ALL THE VOLUNTEERS AND EVERYONE WHO IS TRYING TO HELP, WE APPRECIATE

YOUR EFFORTS SO MUCH. BUT AT THIS STAGE REALLY TRY TO LOOK AFTER YOUR NEIGHBOURS AND THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU. IT IS VERY, VERY STRESSFUL FOR PEOPLE. I LIVE IN AN OLDER NEIGHBOURHOOD WITH A LOT OF ELDERLY PEOPLE AND THEY DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO. WE NEED TO BE THERE FOR OUR

FRIENDS AND FAMILY. THAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING. YOU KNOW, PEOPLE AROUND THOSE BUSINESSES THAT ARE HELPING US, CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THEM. THEY NEED YOUR SUPPORT. WE ARE ASKING TOURISTS TO STAY AWAY RIGHT NOW AND I THINK THE MAYOR SAID IT WELL. WE WILL WELCOME YOU BACK WHEN WE ARE READY.

WE CERTAINLY ARE NOT HAPPY YOU ARE NOT HERE RIGHT NOW ENJOYING THE OKANAGAN THE WAY IT SHOULD BE. BUT PLEASE STAY AWAY AND LOCALS, PAY ATTENTION TO THOSE LOCAL BUSINESSES BECAUSE THEY ARE THE HEART OF THE COMMUNITY AND THE ONES HELPING OUT IN THESE TOUGH TIMES. SO ALSO GOT PLEASE DON’T CALL

THE DISTRICT OFFICES. ALL THE INFORMATION IS ON THE WEBSITE. OUR STAFF IS BUSY COORDINATING ALL THE EFFORTS. THERE MAY BE MORE EVACUATIONS THIS AFTERNOON. IT ALL DEPENDS ON WHAT THE WIND IT DOES AND WHAT IT DOES TO OUR COMMUNITY. SO PLEASE GO TO COURT EMERGENCY.CA FOR THE ANSWERS TO THOSE QUESTIONS.

THEY ARE COORDINATING EVERYTHING AND GOING DOUCHE — DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB. THIS IS THE GOLD STANDARD OF INFORMATION IN THIS PROVINCE AND WE ARE SO LUCKY TO HAVE THAT. I DON’T KNOW IF THERE IS MUCH MORE I CAN ADD SO EVERYONE BE PATIENT. LOOK AFTER EACH OTHER. THAT IS KEY.

AND WE WILL GET THROUGH THIS AND WE WILL REBUILD. WE DID IT ONCE BEFORE. WE HAVE DONE IT TIME AND TIME AGAIN AND WE WILL CONTINUE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU. LAST BUT NOT LEAST, THE REGIONAL DISTRICT BOARD CHAIR. >> HELLO EVERYONE. HELLO AGAIN. I AM THE BOARD CHAIR FOR THE

REGIONAL DISTRICT OF COUNTRY OKANAGAN. TODAY I WILL BE SPEAKING TO THE EFFECT IN ELECTORAL AREA WEST AS WELL AS IMPACTS WITHIN OUR EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTRE. THIS HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLY CHALLENGING COUPLE OF DAYS FOR OUR REGION. PARTICULARLY THOSE IN TRADERS COVE, WILSON LANDING IN THE NORTHWEST SIDE. WE HAVE EXPERIENCED LOSS BEFORE

AND WE HAVE EXPERIENCED LOSS AGAIN THIS WEEK. AND THAT DOESN’T DIMINISH THE LEVEL OF ANXIETY AND COLLECTIVE GRIEF THAT PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING IN THESE COMMUNITIES. MY HEART GOES OUT TO MANY OF THOSE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING EVACUATIONS AND STRUCTURAL LOSS FOR A SECOND TIME SINCE THE WHITE ROCK WILDFIRE IN 2021 WE

KNOW THE COMMUNITY IN THE ELECTORAL AREA WEST IS RESILIENT AND KIND AND CLOSELY KNIT AND THEY WILL GET THROUGH THIS TOUGH TIME TOGETHER. AND I KNOW THAT DIRECTOR WAYNE CARSON IS WORKING DILIGENTLY WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO MAKE SURE THEY FEEL SAFE AND SUPPORTED AT THIS TIME. WE’VE BEEN HERE BEFORE AND WE

HAVE LEARNED. WE KNOW WHAT TO DO TO GET THROUGH THIS. RIGHT NOW WE KNOW THESE FREQUENT AND UPDATING INFORMATIVE PRESS CONFERENCES ARE CRUCIAL TO GIVING CONFIDENCE IN THE COMMUNITY. AT THE REGIONAL DISTRICT OF CENTRAL OKANAGAN WE HAVE TEAMS PLANNING IN PLACE FOR WHAT RECOVERY WILL LOOK LIKE FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.

AT THIS TIME WE ARE STILL VERY MUCH IN THE MIDST OF AN ACTIVE WILDFIRE THAT IS DYNAMIC AND EVER-CHANGING AND SO OUR FOCUS REMAINS ON ENSURING THE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF RESIDENTS AND FIRST RESPONDERS. WE KNOW PEOPLE ARE ANXIOUS TO GET HOME AND KNOW THE OUTCOMES OF THE STRUCTURAL LOSS BUT

PLEASE KNOW AFTER THE FIRE IS OUT TO THE WORK WILL BE DONE AND WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT NEIGHBOURHOODS ARE SAFE SO YOU CAN GO HOME. PLEASE NOTE THAT AS SOON AS IT IS SAFE TO GO HOME WE WILL LET YOU KNOW. WE ASK YOU TO CONTINUE TO BE

VIGILANT, TO STAY INFORMED AND FOLLOW THE ADVICE OF EMERGENCY PERSONNEL. AS HAS BEEN STATED MANY TIMES TODAY THE PLACE TO FIND INFORMATION IS COURT EMERGENCY.CA. — CORD EMERGENCY.CA. IF YOU HAVEN’T ALREADY PLEASE SUBSCRIBE AT THE WEBSITE TO RECEIVE E-MAIL ALERTS. THERE ARE COUPLE THINGS WERE ASKING FOR THE PUBLIC.

NUMBER 1 IS TO BE PREPARED. MAKE SURE YOUR FAMILIES AND PETS ARE PREPARED TO LEAVE AT A MOMENTS NOTICE. TWO, BE INFORMED USING CORD EMERGENCY.CA. THAT IS YOUR OFFICIAL SPACE TO FIND INFORMATION. CAN THREE AS YOU HAVE HEARD FROM RESPONDERS TODAY FOLLOW THE DIRECTIVES OF OUR OFFICIALS. THEY KNOW BEST.

THEY DO NOT TAKE THESE ORDERS AND ALERTS LIGHTLY. AS I SAID YESTERDAY AND I WILL SAY AGAIN PLEASE FOLLOW YOUR EVACUATION ALERT ORDERS FOR YOUR AREA. NOT ABIDING BY THE EVACUATION ALERT NOTICES PUT YOURSELF AT RISK AND DELAYS RESPONSE TO THE EVENTS. AS A REMINDER IF YOU ARE ON AN

EVACUATION ALERT YOU SHOULD BE PACKED AND READY TO LEAVE AT A MOMENT NOTICE. YOU CAN PREREGISTER FOR EMERGENCY SUPPORT SERVICES TO BE BEST PREPARED AND I RECOMMEND YOU DO THIS TO MANAGE THE WAIT TIMES AT RECEPTION CENTRES. IF YOU ARE PUT ON EVACUATION ORDER YOU MUST LEAVE IMMEDIATELY.

I WILL REPEAT, YOU MUST LEAVE IMMEDIATELY. IT IS NOT A CHOICE. YOU NEED TO BE PREPARED TO BE OUT OF YOUR HOME FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. I EXTEND MY GRATITUDE TO THE PROVINCE FOR THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE PROVINCIAL STATE OF EMERGENCY YESTERDAY. AS HAS BEEN MENTIONED WE ARE

ASKING PEOPLE, PLEASE DO NOT VISIT CENTRAL OKANAGAN AT THIS TIME WITH AREAS EXPERIENCING WILDFIRE OF EVENTS. WE WANT TO WELCOME YOU WHEN SAFE TO DO SO BUT OUR TIME AND ENERGY RIGHT NOW ARE SUPPORTING PEOPLE WHO ARE EVACUATED AND THE BIGGEST NEED IS ACCOMMODATION. ACCOMMODATION FOR EVACUEES AND OUR FIRE PERSONNEL THAT HAVE

BEEN EVACUATED FROM THEIR CAMPS. THIS IS A DIFFICULT TIME AND AS I SAID EARLIER WE HAVE TO BE HERE. WE HAVE BEEN HERE BEFORE AND WE GOT THROUGH IT TOGETHER. IT IS THAT SENSE OF COMMUNITY THAT WILL CONTINUE TO ELEVATE US INTO THE STATE OF RECOVERY. STAY SAFE EVERYONE.

WE WILL GET THROUGH THIS TOGETHER. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU CHAIR. THEY WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS. WE WILL DO WHAT WE HAVE DONE BEFORE. IF THERE ARE QUESTIONS FOR THE MAYOR OTHER ONLINE OR IN PERSON? >> Reporter: I DON’T KNOW WHO WANTS TO ANSWER THIS BECAUSE I

DON’T KNOW IF YOU HAVE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES NOW THAT WE HAVE A PROVINCIAL STATE OF EMERGENCY I JUST WANT TO KNOW HOW THAT IS ABLE TO HELP YOUR COMMUNITY IF YOU HAVE ALREADY SEEN IT AND WHAT YOUR HOPES ARE THAT THE STATE OF EMERGENCY MIGHT ACCOMPLISH WHETHER IT IS RESOURCES OR ANYTHING ELSE.

JUST LOOKING FOR INFORMATION ON THAT. >> BASED ON THE NUMBER OF RESIDENTS ON EVACUATION ORDER I THINK IT WILL HELP. WHEN IT COMES TO THE NEED FOR ACCOMMODATIONS, I HAVE SPENT TIME EACH DAY AT THE INFORMATION CENTRE AT THE EMERGENCY SUPPORT SERVICE LOCATION AND CHATTING WITH PEOPLE AND SAY DO YOU HAVE

A PLACE TO STAY AND ONE COUPLE SAID WE HAVE BEEN OFFERED A PLACE TO STAY IN CASTLEGAR. AND SO I SAID CASTLEGAR IS A LONG WAY TO GO. YOU HAVE A PLACE TO STAY LOCALLY? NO. WHEN I WENT TO CITY HALL THIS MORNING AROUND 7:00, A LOT OF PEOPLE SLEEPING IN THEIR CARS.

AT ROYAL LEPAGE PLACE. SO WE NEED ACCOMMODATIONS. I WAS PLEASED WITH THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT WAS MADE BY THE PREMIER AND THE MINISTER. >> WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO ADD ANYTHING? >> I WILL ADD ON. IN ADDITION TO THAT WHEN THE MAYOR AND MYSELF SIGN A LOCAL STATE OF EMERGENCY THERE ARE

ENTITLEMENTS THAT COME WITH SIGNING SUCH AN ITEM. IT ALLOWS FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE EVACUATED TO COVER SOME OF THEIR COSTS. IT ALSO ALLOWS FOR OUR FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND RCMP TO GO ON PROPERTIES THAT THEY WOULDN’T PEEL TO GO ON TO NORMALLY. TO BE ABLE TO SERVICE FIRES. AND WHEN THAT IS ON THE

MUNICIPAL LEVEL BUT ALSO THE PROVINCIAL LEVEL WHAT HAPPENS IS HAVING A DISCUSSION WITH PREMIER EB-MAC — PREMIER EB, THERE IS THE CONNECTION. THEY ARE TRYING TO — I KNOW THE CHAIR AND THE MAYOR AND I THINK WE’VE ALL HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH IT. WITH THEIR TRYING TO LOOK AT DOING IS REVIEWING THE SITUATION

ON A FUNDING LEVEL WITH REGARDS TO FINANCIALS ON THE FUNDING LEVEL AND IT OPENS UP DOORS FOR THEM. SO THERE ARE ADVANTAGES THERE AND THEY ALSO WANT TO MAKE CERTAIN THEY WERE SENDING OUT THAT COMMUNICATION FOR CONCERN OF TOURISTS COMING INTO OUR REGION AT THIS POINT TIME.

THERE IS MORE TO IT THAN THAT. MORE PIECES BUT THAT IS THE REASON WHY THEY WERE LOOKING AT DOING IT ALSO. SO THERE COULD BE POTENTIAL EXPERT — EXTRA SUPPORTS. >> THANK YOU. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MAYOR TRAN FOR? >> Reporter: HELLO. I WAS WATCHING LAST NIGHT. THE EVACUATION ORDER ALERTS GO

ALL THE WAY UP TO THE HIGHWAY. HOW DID YOU FEEL WHEN YOU WOKE UP THIS MORNING AND SOUGHT HADN’T GONE FURTHER? >> HOW DO I FEEL THIS MORNING? ANXIOUS. YOU STEP OUTSIDE AND LOOK AROUND AND ALL WE SEE IS SMOKE. SO CAME TO THE OFFICE RIGHT AWAY AND TRY TO GATHER AS MUCH

INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE. PHONE THE FIRE CHIEFS. THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATION OFFICER. A FEW PHONE CALLS. SO I FELT ANXIOUS JUST LIKE THE REST OF OUR COMMUNITY. IT IS HARD TO TELL WHAT IS GOING ON WHEN IT IS DARK AND SMOKY. SO ANYWAY, I FEEL A LOT BETTER AFTER THAT CONVERSATION TODAY

AND LISTENING TO THE REPORTS. BUT REALLY CONCERNED. WE LOST STRUCTURES AS WELL. I DON’T KNOW HOW MANY BUT CERTAINLY THERE WERE STRUCTURES LOST AND THAT IS VERY CONCERNING. I REALLY FEEL FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND MY HEART GOES OUT

Fire officials provide an update on wildfires in Kelowna and surrounding areas and resources being provided to the province.

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