Blog

Vernon Fire Rescue readying itself for increased risk of wildfire conditions

Emergencies can happen anytime and Vernon Fire Rescue Services (VFRS) is taking steps to ready itself for the height of wildfire season and reminding citizens and visitors about the important things we can all do to keep each other safe.

Already this year, fire departments across the North Okanagan have responded to multiple grass and wildland fires and the fire danger rating has fluctuated between low and high at various times.

“The risk of wildfire can change quickly, particularly when we are experiencing heat like we’ve seen this week,” said Fire Chief David Lind. “We need to practice fire safety all the time, and when high heat and sunshine are drying out the region, we need to pay even closer attention to our activities.

“If people are spending time in the mountains, around lakes, in camping areas, or on trails, it’s paramount that everyone does their part to prevent human-caused wildfires to protect themselves, our communities, and our emergency responders.”

Throughout the summer season, VFRS will adjust its operations, as necessary, to have firefighters stationed at Fire Station 3 during higher risk periods.

“Residents in the Predator Ridge area may notice career and auxiliary firefighters working and training out of Station 3 at various times when the fire danger rating is listed as extreme, particularly during the hottest part of the day when fire behaviour can be more aggressive,” said Chief Lind.

The City of Vernon would like to thank the public for helping to prevent wildfires. To report an emergency or wildfire in the City of Vernon call 911. To report a wildfire, call the BC Wildfire Service at 1 800 663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cellphone.

For the latest information on current wildfire activity, burning restrictions and more, visit www.bcwildfire.ca.

City of Vernon Supports Evacuation Siren

The PRCEMC committee, with the support of City of Vernon staff have made a successful presentation to Mayor and Council asking for a resolution that the City of Vernon Fire Rescue Services adopt the use of the Predator Ridge Emergency Alert Siren as a component of the City’s Emergency Management Program, and that the City of Vernon be the agency responsible for activation of the siren if an evacuation is ordered.

The PRCEMC will now move forward with repricing and securing bids on the siren and installation. Following this we will arrange for an equitable cost sharing agreement with the other stakeholders. The cost apportioned to Predator Residents will be fundraised within the Predator Ridge Community.

Pending a successful fundraising campaign, we aim to have the Evacuation Order Siren operational for the 2023 fire season.

Stay tuned for additional updates from your PRCEMC as they become available.

Read the letter from Mayor Cumming

Read the story on Castanet here.

Longspoon Common Property gets FireSmart

A section of the common property that borders the Osprey Coach & Carriage duplex homes on Longspoon Drive was targeted for a FireSmart Cleanup on Saturday June 11th.

A group of over 30 volunteers attacked this very steep and hard to access property, laddering trees and cleaning up debris and dead wood. The debris was hauled to the bottom of the slope adjacent the golf course fairway at hole #7 of the Predator course.

As well, an old barbed wire fence was dismantled and the wire was rolled up and disposed of, making the are safer for wildlife and hikers.

A future FireSmart Event will be held in this area in the fall, once the golf season has ended when we will load the debris into disposal bins and remove to the Vernon Landfill.

Thanks to these dedicated FireSmart Volunteers for a job very well done!

FireSmart Community Event

Dear Neighbours,  

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

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:  LONGSPOON COMMON PROPERTY – JUNE 11, 2022 

The FireSmart Committee is excited to announce that a section of the Longspoon area will be hosting the next FireSmart clean-up event. The area to be cleaned up is a section of the common property that borders the Osprey Coach & Carriage duplex homes on Longspoon Drive.

The committee is currently looking for volunteers to help with the clean-up and welcome all helping hands.  Our collective efforts will help make our community a safer place. Water and snacks will be provided as well as safety glasses, hi-vis vests, and gloves if you require them. Volunteers should be prepared for sloping and uneven ground and appropriate footwear should be worn. We will only focus on the PINK area at this event.

A safety orientation will be held at the Fire Station at 8:30 am prior to the cleanup event getting underway. We hope to see you there for a fun morning of FireSmart.

EVENT DETAILS 
DATE:   Saturday, JUNE 11, 2022
TIME:   8:30am – 12:00pm
LOCATION:   Meet in front of the Fire Station on Predator Ridge Drive at 8:30 am.

*** IMPORTANT: ADVANCED SIGN UP REQUIRED ***
Please sign up by clicking the REGISTER NOW button below or visit:
https://predatorridge.wufoo.com/forms/firesmart-community-event/

REGISTER NOW

If you have any questions please contact us.

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 Emergency Management Committee (PRCEMC) FireSmart Team.

Birdie Lake Court Gets FireSmart

We did it – cut, raked, collected, filled the large bin, built muscles and friendship.

Eva & Larry Poxon

With help and mentorship of Predator Ridge Landscape Manager, Breanne Tripp, neighbours Toby Frisk, Deb Hobbs, Bob Wade, Neil Bowler, Eva Poxon and Larry Poxon went to work to make their properties more FireSmart.

It is amazing how much work can be achieved with a great team of motivated adults! 4-days of pleasure went by sooo quickly.

Working over a period of 4-days from Thursday to Sunday, the neighbours invested a total of 50 hours on lots 7 thru 12 to make their properties & community more resistant to wildfire.

A big shoutout to Breanne Tripp for all her guidance and help in providing a very large bin that was completely filled. Breanne is also a member of the PRCEMC FireSmart Committee.

Congratulations you guys on a JOB Well Done!

Are You Prepared?

Dear Homeowner, 

Being prepared before and when disaster strikes is something only you can initiate. There are many great resources readily available that will help you understand what potential hazards you might face and what you can do to be prepared for them. However, the responsibility lies with each of us individually to seek out this information and be prepared for the unexpected. 

The following is a list of resource that will help you be better prepared for an emergency: 

◆ Know Your Hazards

Being aware of what hazards you should prepare for is the first step in emergency preparedness. Although severe weather, power outages etc. are factors, one of the most likely and significant threats to our community is wildfire. Because we live in a wild land interface area, it’s important that we are ready and understand what to do before, during and after a wildfire. 
The Wildfire Preparedness Guide is an excellent resource to help you plan for such an emergency. + Click here to access the Wildfire Preparedness Guide

◆  Build a Household Emergency Kit & Grab and Go Bag 

At the onset of a disaster, you might need to stay at home with your emergency kit, or you may need to leave at a moment’s notice with your grab and go bags. Now is the time to gather and organize supplies so you are ready should disaster strike. + Click here to access instructions and videos, on how to build a household emergency kit & grab-and-go bag 

◆  Make Your Emergency Plan

A well thought out emergency plan communicated with everyone in your household can save time (and lives) during an emergency. Everyone will know what to do, where to call and how to stay safe if an emergency were to happen. Make sure to review the plan with each member of your household and involve them in the planning process. Keep a copy of this plan in an easy to find and easy to remember place. If you have out-of-town visitors staying with you during wildfire season – tell them about your plan!

◆  Register with the City of Vernon Connect (NOW) 

The Vernon Connect App is now up and running and available for all devices. Visit the App Store or Google Play to download. Among the many things you can use the app for, the emergency alert feature will kick in if an emergency occurs that requires residents to act. In such cases, the “report a problem” banner changes to read “alert” and the colour changes from green to red. Residents should read the alert to help decide next steps.

If you don’t have a smart phone, you can still subscribe to stay up to date on the latest news and events happening in the Vernon area. + Click here to register.

Guidelines and Best Practices to Help Us,
In the Event an Evacuation Alert or Evacuation Order Is Issued:

Preparing for an Evacuation

Our best defense is a good offence. Be prepared and have a well thought out plan including:

  1. Grab and Go Kits are ready with clothing and valuables 
  2. Written list of who is to do what in house, readily available 
  3. Set up links to monitor for City of Vernon communication and media: 
  4. Preselect a meeting place for your family in case you are separated when an Evacuation Order is called. For example, a local coffee shop, the mall parking lot, a friend or relative’s house, etc. 
  5. Keep the gas tank of at least one personal vehicle always full. 
  6. Make sure you have one or two of your neighbours’ cell phone numbers in case you need to connect with them. 
  7. Also, it is a good idea to have that information handy in case you have a neighbour who is not tech savvy and may need your help accessing the right information. 
  8. Let your neighbour or a community friend know if you are going on vacation so that you can be accounted for if there is ever an evacuation. 
  9. If you can, set up an alternate place to stay, should an evacuation happen (e.g., stay with family or friends in another location). 
  10. Make sure you are registered with Block Watch in the event a phone tree of communication is ever needed. 
  11. There is an alternate emergency exit up at Sparkling Hill, it is currently gated and locked. In the event that it is required during an evacuation, it will be unlocked by authorized EM personal and could be used as our second exit out, if and only if we are instructed to go that way. DO NOT USE this exit, UNLESS we have been given clear instructions to do so.
Stages of Evacuation

There are three (3) stages to an evacuation. 

  1. Alert Stage 
  2. Evacuation Stage 
  3. Evacuation Rescinded Stage 

First and foremost, follow the instructions provided by the local emergency coordinators & responders. You are prepared because you have made an emergency plan and your grab-and-go kits are ready to go. 

Stage 1: Standing by on Alert 
  1. Have your grab-and-go kit ready and packed in the vehicle, along with any personal items that you want to bring with you. 
  2. Cell phone charged and charger, car keys and wallets etc. close by. 
  3. Monitor the City of Vernon media outlets, Vernon Connect, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook for information on evacuation orders and location of Evacuation Reception Centres. 
  4. Check Vernon Castanet online for new updates. 
  5. Monitor local radio stations for updates (Vernon’s Pure Country 105.7 and Beach Radio 107.5 FM). 
  6. Locate all family members and designate a meeting area outside the evacuation area, should an Evacuation Alert or Order be called while separated. 
  7. Arrange transportation for all your household members. Depending on the situation transportation may be provided.
  8. Ensure alternate accommodation for all members of the family are set up and confirmed 
  9. Prepare to move disabled persons, children and/or neighbours. If assistance is needed reach out to first responders. 
  10. Prepare to take pets with you. 
  11. Remove combustibles such as patio cushions, plastics etc. from the exterior of your home. Bring these items inside your home or garage. 
  12. Do not drive towards the danger if it is close by, as it could create congestion and confusion for the first responders.
Stage 2: Order to Evacuate
  1. The order to evacuate usually comes from the City of Vernon Emergency Management Services. Depending on the situation, the order could come from other authorities including the RCMP or BC WildFire Service.  
  2. Emergency officials may instruct you to shut off your utilities, or they may end up being shut off by the utility company to protect the natural gas or electricity systems. Do not shut off your natural gas unless instructed to do so.
  3. Leave the house. Do not try to stay to protect your property, as this just causes more work for the first response personal who are trying to get us all out safely and do their jobs. 
  4. Drive slowly and safely with the traffic, be kind, be calm, let people out of their driveways so we can all get out safely. Drive in an orderly fashion, using the zipper method to allow traffic to flow evenly. 
  5. One vehicle per household will help alleviate the congestion on the streets and roadways. 
  6. Follow the signs if they have had time to place them. If not, watch for emergency personnel who will be directing traffic and evacuation flow. 
  7. Put the OK sign in your window as you leave, lock all the doors and windows. + Click here to download a printable Emergency OK sign 
  8. Once you are safely out of danger and if an Evacuation Centre has been set up, please make sure you register so that Emergency Support Services will have you accounted for. Register your family at the Evacuation Center or online with the Provincial Emergency Support Services at https://ess.gov.bc.ca
Stage 3: Evacuation Rescinded 
  1. The order to rescind the alert or evacuation will come from City of Vernon EMS. 
  2. It will be posted on all City of Vernon communication and media sites and at the Evacuation Centre or Command Post. 
  3. Do not return home until the order has been rescinded.

If you have any questions or feedback, please reach out to your PRCEMC online at: PRCEMC.ca/Contact-Us.

Your Predator Ridge Community Emergency Management Committee (PRCEMC)

Jane Toppozini, Gord Wilson, Luiz Araujo, Karen Grimsrud, Robert Scott, Colleen Scott.

Community Safety Message

PRCEMC

Dear Neighbour’s,

As you know, last week Predator Ridge fell victim to a criminal attack on several community mailboxes resulting in the theft of personal mail and packages as well as the destruction of numerous mailboxes. 

These incidents have been reported to the RCMP and Canada Post (CP), by First Landmark, the PRCEMC, Block Watch and some residents. This is the first time that our community has been targeted in such a brazen and widespread manner, and as you can imagine residents of Predator Ridge are very concerned. 

In conversation with a local Canada Post supervisor on Monday January 17, we were informed of the following.

  1. Canada Post and the RCMP are aware of the situation.
  2. Canada Post is sending a security representative to Predator this week to review the vandalism and extent of the damage.
  3. ONLY Mailboxes that have been vandalized and the locks are broken will have their mail held at the Canada Post main office in Vernon until the mailboxes are repaired. 
  4. Mailboxes that have not been damaged will continue to receive mail delivery.
  5. Mailboxes where only the parcel boxes have been vandalized will have their parcels delivered to their doors. (we spoke directly to our local area CP carrier on this). Personal mail will continue to be delivered to the mailboxes (e.g. Lower Falcon point)
  6. We have been notified by the local carrier that both Birdie Lake Place and Court have been repaired and mail delivery has resumed.
  7. All of the mailboxes that were damaged were the older brown-based models that are easily vandalized and are often targeted.  To have these older mailboxes replaced with new tamper proof boxes we encourage residents to call the CP Costumer Service and request an upgraded to the new grey tamper proof mailboxes.  CP Customer Service 1-866-607-6301
  8. If you are in any way concerned for the safety of your expecting parcels, have them redirected to Canada Post main office in Vernon.
  9. To pick up your mail in Vernon you will need identification with your picture on it. (Driver’s license or BC Service Card).

Canada Post Main Office Vernon
3101 32nd Ave, Vernon, BC V1T 2M0

Hours of Operation

Our Block Watch Captains and PRCEMC will continue to keep you posted as new information becomes available.  In the mean time, be vigilant and report all suspicious activities to the RCMP (911 or non-emergency number 250-545-7171) and also inform your Block Watch Captain.  

If you see a crime in progress call 911 immediately. Do Not confront the criminals. 

Our Block Watch neighbours make a commitment to watch out for each other’s homes and report suspicious activities to the police and to each other. They also keep each other informed about neighbourhood occurrences, burglary, thefts, and other crimes or problems occurring on their streets. If you have any questions or concerns about security and safety in your neighbourhood please contact your Block Watch Captain.

If you are not a member of Block Watch and would like to be on the Block Watch roster please email us at: https://prcemc.ca/contact-block-watch/

Yours Truly, 

Luiz Araujo

on behalf of Predator Ridge Block Watch Committee &  the PRCEMC

Community Safety Contest Winners

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE PRCEMC Community Safety Contest Winners:

PRCEMC would like to extend a congratulations to the winners of our Community Safety Draw held in December.

  • 1st Prize Winner- Set of Head Lamps was won by Jeff Biggs
  • 2nd Prize Winner – Reflective Safety Vest was won by Laurie Parsons
  • 3rd Prize Winner. – Reflective Safety Vest was won by Cheryl Dobrowolski

Thank you to everyone for participating.  Keep an eye for our next news letter and draw!!   Be Safe, Be Seen