RCMP asks for public assistance to to ensure loved ones are accounted for
By Nelson Daily Staff
RCMP is asking the public to make sure family members holidaying in Fairmont Hot Springs during the weekend have been in contact with them.
The public plea comes after Sunday’s landslide in the East Kootenay resort town.
“The Fairmont area of British Columbia is an internationally known travel destination with visitors from coast to coast and around the world,” said Senior Media Relations Officer for the RCMP, Cpl Dan Moskaluk explained.
“We ask all tourists that were in the Fairmont area to contact their families and loved ones to ensure that all are accounted for.”
RCMP have not received reports as of Tuesday of any overdue travelers or missing persons since the Sunday (July 15) landslide that occurred in the Fairmont area.
Reports say approximately 600 people were stranded by the mudslide that swept down a creek bed through the popular resort hotspot north of Cranbrook at about 4:30 p.m. local time Sunday, forcing the evacuation of large parts of the resort.
The slide closed most roads in the area, including Highway 93/95. Both were reopened Monday.
Road access to the RV park and campground at Fairmont was reopened about 2:30 p.m. local time Monday the resort said in a news release.
The Regional District of East Kootenay is currently the Incident Commander and members of the Columbia Valley RCMP are continuing to assist in the disaster response efforts.
The RCMP SED Air Services helicopter attended the area on Sunday and conducted flight duties in support of operations on both July 15 and 16th.
Throughout the response the RCMP has had between six to 12 members including the SED Traffic Services and Police Services Dog team.
Off duty Iqaluit RCMP S/Sgt Neil Pearson was amongst the campers who were cut off.
Although holidaying S/Sgt Pearson went into “cop mode” and was of great assistance to the those stranded and kept the responders up to date on the safety and well being of the some 600 stranded campers.
