UPDATED: More properties near Talbott Creek Wildfire removed from Evacuation Alert
By Nelson Daily Staff
Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK) Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) said in a media release Tuesday for the second consecutive day based on the recommendation from BC Wildfire Service (BCWS), there is a reduction of the number of properties under Evacuation Alert due to the Talbott Creek Wildfire (N51250).
The RDCK said the EOC is removing the Evacuation Alert for all properties east of the Slocan River, a total of 63 properties.
The Evacuation Alert remains in place for 113 properties between Vallican and north to Drake Street along Slocan River Road.
“This is another positive step to be able to reduce the Evacuation Alert for a second straight day thanks to the hard work being done by the BC Wildfire Service ” said Chris Johnson, Director of the RDCK EOC.
“Hopefully this trend will continue with cooler temperatures and potential rain forecast for this weekend.”
The RDCK EOC originally issued the Evacuation Alert on Saturday, August 22 for 305 homes in the communities of Lebahdo, Little Slocan, Passmore and Vallican due to the Talbott Creek Wildfire.
Monday, September 14 the Evacuation Alert was removed for all properties west of the intersection of Indian Point Road and Little Slocan South Road, plus all properties south of the Little Slocan River.
The RDCK EOC said heavy smoke continues to blanket the entire area and has prevented helicopters from flying until visibility improves.
However, there has been limited fire activity and growth in the section of the fire that is closest to the areas where the Evacuation Alert has been removed.
The RDCK said the BC Wildfire Service has structure protection units (SPU’s) deployed along Slocan River Road, north of Natlamp Road.
Three, 20-person unit crews continue to work in this area beginning at Natlamp Road and continuing northeast. As a result, only local traffic is allowed on Slocan River Road.
Evacuation Alert area reduced near Talbott Creek Wildfire
Based on the recommendation from BC Wildfire Service (BCWS,) the Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK) Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) is removing the Evacuation Alert to some properties in the Slocan Valley affected by the Talbott Creek Wildfire near Winlaw/Passmore.
In a media release Monday, the RDCK EOC said the Evacuation Alert is being removed for all properties west of the intersection of Indian Point Road and Little Slocan South Road, plus all properties south of the Little Slocan River due to the Talbott Creek Wildfire (N51250).
The RDCK said this reduces the number of homes under the Evacuation Alert by 129 homes, from 305 to 176.
The RDCK said the EOC originally issued the Evacuation Alert on Saturday, August 22 for 305 homes in the communities of Lebahdo, Little Slocan, Passmore and Vallican.
“Heavy smoke continues to cover the entire region and has prevented helicopters from flying over the last 48 hours,” the RDCK EOC said.
“As a result, there continues to be fire activity on the north and east areas of the fire which warrants the Evacuation Alert remaining in place for those residents.”
The RDCK said BC Wildfire Service has structure protection units (SPU’s) deployed along Slocan River Road, north of Natlamp Road.
The RDCK said three, 20-person unit crews are working in this area throughout the day. As a result, only local traffic is allowed on Slocan River Road.
For more information on the wildfire, please visit the BCWS website.
“This Evacuation Alert has been in place for a long time now and we appreciate the patience and understanding from all the residents affected,” said Chris Johnson, Director of the RDCK EOC.
“We are very thankful for the work done by the BC Wildfire Service and are hopeful this type of progress continues and will allow us to remove more homes from the Alert area.”
The RDCK said at this time residents or visitors within the area are not required to evacuate; however, the RDCK advises people to remain vigilant and be prepared to leave the area at a moment’s notice.
“It is recommended to prepare an emergency kit and ensure preparedness, including moving pets and livestock to a safe area, in the event the situation worsens and an Evacuation Order is enforced,” the RDCK said.
“Due to COVID-19 restrictions there are limited options for lodging. People that are evacuated will be asked to arrange accommodations with family or friends outside the area, if at all possible, leaving available spots for those that need it most.”
For more information:
- Current RDCK Evacuation Alerts, Orders and Rescinds: www.rdck.ca/eocinfo or call 250-352-7701
- Sign up for RDCK Emergency Notification System to receive notification of Evacuation Orders. Go to www.rdck.ca/emergencynotification and select “Emergency Alerts” from the home page, or go to the notification system sign-up page at https://voyent-alert.com/community/?page_id=217
- BC Wildfire – Interactive Map of Current Fires: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status – Emergency Contact Number 1-800-663-5555 or *5555
- Public weather alerts for BC from Environment Canada: https://weather.gc.ca/warnings/index_e.html?prov=bc
- Highway closures and conditions from DriveBC: http://www.drivebc.ca/
- For the BC Air Quality Health Index: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/epd/bcairquality/readings/aqhi-table.xml
- For tips about living with smoky skies and wildfires from the Interior Health Authority: https://www.interiorhealth.ca/YourEnvironment/Emergency/MajorEvents/Pages/default.aspx
- Emergency preparedness information and tips from the Prepared BC website: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/emergency-preparedness-response-recovery/preparedbc
Please refer to the map(s) attached outlining the new Evacuation Alert area and the specific addresses still under Alert.
