Author: Gordon Wilson

NATIONAL EMERGENCY ALERT & WILDFIRE EVACUATION FULL SIREN TEST

IMPORTANT NOTICE: 

National Alert Ready System and Predator Ridge Wildfire Evacuation Full Siren Test on Wednesday,  November 20,  2024 at 1:55 PM

Dear Neighbours,  Please be advised that a National Alert Ready Test is scheduled for Wednesday November 20, 2024 at 1:55 pm. The Alert Ready system is tested twice a year, once in May and again in November.  In addition to television and radio, Alert Ready sends emergency alerts to cell phones and wireless devices that are compatible with Wireless Public Alerting (WPA). To coincide with the Alert Ready test, the City of Vernon Fire Department will be testing the Predator Ridge Wildfire Evacuation Siren. 

This Wildfire Evacuation Siren test will be a full-volume audible test of the siren for a total of 3 minutes. The siren will cycle through high and low pitches repetitively for 8 cycles; a total duration of 3 minutes. During the testing, our high power, rotating, unidirectional warning siren sound will fade in out of neighbourhoods as it makes rotations. Please keep in mind that this siren test is only 3 minutes in length. In the event the siren is activated during a wildfire emergency, the siren will sound in continuous 15 minute intervals until it is paused or stopped by authorities. 

This is only a test of the siren and Alert Ready, no action is required on your part.  For more information on Alert Ready, click here, or visit the Government of BC’s website here.  Thank you for supporting your Predator Ridge Community Safety program.

Sincerely, Predator Ridge Community Safety (PRCS)
Gord Wilson
Jane Toppozini
Gord Ball 
Robert Scott
PRCS websiteHomeowners Intranet site

Osprey Green Townhomes (OGT) Hold FireSmart Cleanup

With the hot and dry summer season approaching fast, residents of the Osprey Green Townhomes, organized their residents to cleanup a section of the common lands on their strata development.

It was a great turnout, and a significant section of the property was cleared of ground fuel. Additionally, some tree laddering was also completed.

Thank-You FireSmart Volunteers

Thanks to the efforts of a hearty group of community volunteers, another section of the Commonage forest, above Upper Diamond Way and adjacent to the District Development underwent a massive FireSmart Cleanup. Trees were laddered up approximately 2 meters off the ground and forest ground fuels were collected. Volunteers managed to fill to the brim, two 20-cu.yd. refuse bins with combustible debris from the forest floor.

Thank you to the following hard working volunteers:

Howie Anderson
Lorena Clowes
Rick Ellis
Nick Leighton
John Lemieux
Roxy McCrone
Robert Scott
Vince Timm
Claudio Verconich

Gord Ball
Stewart Clowes
Lorin Ellis
Kirsten Leighton
Nathalie Lindal
Linda Padgett
Greg Smith
Jane Toppozini
Emily Volans

Lynn Brown
Eamonn Deegan
Frank Jorgensen
Elizabeth Lemieux
Laura Mackenzie
Jim Pitura
Mandy Sutherland
Breanne Tripp
Brenda Watson

We would also like to thank Wes Brassard, the City of Vernon’s FireSmart Coordinator, and his assistant, Andrew, for attending the event. They provided excellent information about the FireSmart program and conducted homeowner FireSmart assessments in the Falcon Point neighbourhoods, afterwards.

Another big shout out goes to Breanne Tripp for organizing the Predator kitchen staff to cook our hot dogs and hamburgers following the mishap with the BBQ equipment. That worked out just great and we all enjoyed a good lunch despite that!

Also, we would like to recognize Golf Operations Manager, Damian Sayers for securing a tent for us to use. Even though (thankfully) we didn’t need to use it, we appreciated the effort from him on that front.

On the horizon, your FireSmart team is in the planning stages for a fall cleanup event, likely in October, once the golf course is closed for the season. Stay tuned for more information on that.

Thank you again to everyone that turned out to help on this one. By taking these proactive measures to reduce the risk of wildfire, we can protect our homes and community and increase our resilience to wildfire.

FireSmart Community Cleanup Event – May 18, 2024

Dear Neighbours,

Are you looking to learn more about FireSmart and what you can do to protect your home and community?  

Join us at our upcoming clean-up event and learn what you can do to FireSmart your property.  You can also visit the PRCEMC website at: PRCEMC.ca/FireSmart for more information and FireSmart resources.

CLEAN-UP EVENT:  Commonage Neighbourhood

DATE:  SATURDAY, May 18, 2024

The FireSmart Committee is excited to announce that the Commonage neighbourhood will be the site of our next FireSmart clean-up event.  The area to be cleaned is the common property and park area directly below the Dog Park.

The committee is currently looking for volunteers to assist with the clean-up and welcome all helping hands. Our collective efforts will help make our community a safer place to live.

Water and snacks will be provided, as well as safety glasses, hi-vis vests and gloves, should you require them.  Volunteers should be prepared for sloping and uneven ground and appropriate footwear should be worn.

A safety orientation will be held at the dog park entrance at 8:30am prior to the clean-up event getting underway.  We hope to see you there for a fun morning of FireSmart!

The PRCS FireSmart Coordinator will be on hand to answer questions and will be providing a Hot Dog BBQ starting at 12:30 pm for all our hungry volunteers. 

EVENT DETAILS 

DATE:  Saturday, May 18, 2024

TIME:   9:00am – 1:00pm

LOCATION:  Meet beside the entrance to the District on Diamond Way

*** IMPORTANT: ADVANCED SIGN UP IS REQUIRED! *** 

Please sign up by clicking this link

If you have any questions, please email us at: firesmart@prcemc.ca 

Thank you in advance for donating your time and helping to make our community a better and safer place to live.

Sincerely,

Your Predator Ridge Community Safety (PRCS) Committee – FireSmart Team.

FireSmart Tip of the Month

Throughout wildfire season, if you are evacuated or planning to be away, remember to bring your door mats inside the house along with any other combustable items such as patio furniture, cushions, umbrellas etc.

The image above was taken after the homeowner returned home following the West Kelowna wildfire. This image shows how easily this home could have burned to the ground.

FireSmart Neighbourhood Cleanup a Huge Success! October 21, 2023

A great big THANK YOU goes out to a group of volunteers from across the Predator Ridge community for giving up their Saturday morning today to FireSmart the area along upper Diamond Way below the dog park.

A tremendous amount of ground fuel was cleaned up and removed into waste disposal bins that were provided by Predator Ridge Resort and the City of Vernon. The collective efforts of these wonderful volunteers will help make our community a safer place to live.

Thank you so much to our volunteers:

  • Wes Brassard (CoV)
  • Lynn & Howie Brown
  • Brad & Linda Campbell
  • Michael & Marina Crawford
  • Eamonn Deegan
  • Grant & Maurlice Hadland
  • Charl & Carol Johnson
  • Rick Johnston
  • Duane & Valorie Kozłowski
  • Nicholas & Kirsten Leighton
  • Elizabeth & John Lemieux
  • Tim Maunder
  • Roxy McCrone
  • Brian Morgans
  • Luiza Muller
  • Joe & Bernice Oviatt
  • Glen & Kelly Purgavie
  • Doris Ritter
  • Bev Rosenau
  • Barb Schmidke
  • Robert Scott
  • Greg Smith
  • Pat & Theresa Stobbs
  • Jane Toppozini
  • Breanne Tripp
  • Emily Volans
  • Gord Wilson

Following the cleanup, BBQ hamburgers and hot dogs were served up to all the hungry workers. Thanks very much to Wes Brassard, City of Vernon FireSmart Coordinator for hosting the BBQ and to Predator Ridge for delivering the BBQ & propane.

Stay tuned for future FireSmart cleanups coming in the Spring of 2024. Our community is working closely with our FireSmart Coordinator at the city of Vernon to keep the FireSmart program actively engaged at Predator Ridge.

Sincerely,

Your Predator Ridge Community Safety Committee (PRCS) FireSmart Team.

Protect your Home from Wildfire

BC is currently in the midst of the worst wildfire season in history. The ongoing presence of wildfire throughout the province, as well as the growing threat throughout the Central Okanagan, reminds us that we need to act now to prevent devastating losses to our own community. There are many steps that you can take around your own homes to help protect them in the event of a wildfire. This includes removing any coniferous vegetation that is in close proximity to your home, keeping your roof and gutters clean, and bringing in all patio furniture and cushions in the event of an evacuation alert. 

Following evacuation orders and alerts and getting ready before a wildfire disaster strikes can make a world of a difference. While facing devastating losses in nearby communities it is important to remain proactive in our own. We have attached more resources that you may find helpful at this time. The best thing to do now is prepare. Prepare yourself and your family, your pets, and your property for the possibility of wildfire in our own community. Preparing a grab-and-go bag and knowing your evacuation routes are just a few ways to make sure you’re ready.

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