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Community Safety Update

Dear Neighbour,
We wanted to provide you with a community update relating to the current wildfire situation in the Okanagan.

CURRENT UPDATE & PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES

There has been no change in risk levels at Predator Ridge. Vernon Fire Rescue Services (VFRS) continues to be positioned at Fire Station #3 at Predator Ridge, as a command post with Deputy Chief and crew.  The team continues to proactively monitor our community through 30-minute patrols and Fire Station #3 will be staffed 24-hours/day until the threat levels drop. 

As per the latest emergency release from the Regional District of the Central Okanagan, a stage 4 water restriction has been put in place throughout the region. We are not under a restriction at Predator Ridge, however, we strongly encourage you to reduce your water consumption.  This will ensure that if required, we can conserve the water in our reservoir for fire fighting purposes.  See below for a link to the CORD emergency news conference for full details.

UPDATES AND WHERE TO FIND CURRENT INFORMATION

CITY OF VERNON RESOURCES

It is important to keep yourself updated with the latest information from official sources. If you haven’t already, please register to receive alerts from COV directly through: 

  • The Alertable Community Notifications system, which will provide you with emergency notifications including evacuation alerts or orders that are issued within the City’s municipal boundary. Learn more at: Vernon.ca/Alertable
  • Register to receive alerts from the City of Vernon directly to your inbox by subscribing at: Vernon.ca/Subscribe
  • Follow the City of Vernon social media channels (@CityOfVernon) on Facebook and Instagram.

CENTRAL OKANAGAN EMERGENCY OPERATIONS

The current wildfires in the Okanagan are all located in the Regional District of the Central Okanagan.  For up-to-date information please visit CordEmergency.ca.  You can also follow them on Twitter (@CO_Emerg).

For more details on the fire situation, we encourage you to watch the official Emergency News conference released at 11am this morning. This can be viewed at the link below or via their YouTube channel (@regionaldistrict).


GOVERNMENT OF BC

Earlier this afternoon, the Government of BC released their BC Wildfire Update.  This can be viewed on the link below or via their YouTube channel (@GovernmentofBC)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT EVACUATION ALERTS & ORDERS

We have received a lot of questions regarding what do to in the case of an Evacuation Alert or Order. 

As per the Government of BC, if an Evacuation Alert is in place, be ready to leave on short notice and take the following steps:

  • Move patio furniture, cushions and door mats indoors.
  • Connect garden hoses and fill large containers with water, such as pools, hot tubs and garbage cans. This can assist firefighters and help slow advancing flames.
  • Ensure your house number is visible. This will help firefighters locate your home quickly.
  • Disconnect automatic garage door openers so doors can be opened by hand if you lose power.
  • Clean around the exterior of your property and remove any dry debris in your yard and if possible, clean out your gutters.
  • If you have a roof sprinkler system, please have it set up, but do not turn on your water. In the case of an emergency, fire fighters will turn the system on. Leaving your water running puts our entire community at risk. We run off a gravity fed reservoir, which requires pumps to fill from the lake.  If those pumps lose power or fail, we will be left with only the water currently in the reservoir.

Government of BC Emergency Evacuee Guidance

THE EMERGENCY EVACUATION SIREN

NOW MORE THAN EVER, we are grateful to have our local evacuation siren installed and a tool readily available for our community.  As a reminder, in the event that we are placed on an Evacuation Order, we will be notified:

  • through the Alertable app and above channels
  • through command post personnel (boots on the ground)
  • and our local siren will be activated

HAVE YOU MADE YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO THE SIREN?Due to some innovative cost savings, and further in-kind contributions by Predator Ridge, we are now only $6,000 short of our needed funding for the siren. 

If you have not had an opportunity to contribute, we still need all members of our community to do their part and CONTRIBUTE to this invaluable community resource.

CONTRIBUTE TO THE SIREN NOW

PREDATOR RIDGE ONSITE AMENITIES & STAFFING CHALLENGES

We are currently being challenged with staffing levels due to evacuations in Kelowna and Lake Country, where a significant amount of our team resides.  We have had to make the decision to limit our onsite amenities as follows:

  • Range Lounge & Grill remains open with a limited menu.  We will be closing at 8:00pm this evening.
  • Pallino’s is closed until further notice.
  • Turning Point and Outlook Cabin are closed until further notice.
  • Commonage Market is well stocked with our chef-prepared frozen foods from both Range Lounge & Grill and Pallino’s.  Hours of operation remain as normal, open from 6:00am – 8:00pm.

Our focus is to ensure the safety of our community we will provide you with further updates when we receive them.  We encourage you to stay connected with official sources, as provided above.

Sincerely,
The Predator Ridge Management Team
AND
Your Predator Ridge Community Safety (PRCS) Committee
Gordon Wilson
Jane Toppozini
Karen Grimsrud
Robert Scott
Gord Ball

Fund the Siren

Thank you in advance for supporting Predator Ridge Community Emergency Management and our Community Safety Program.

It takes all of us, working together, to build a stronger, safer community….

Your PRCEMC Team
Gord Wilson; Jane Toppozini; Karen Grimsrud; Robert Scott

Important Community Message

Predator Ridge Community Emergency Evacuation Siren

HISTORY:

Dear Homeowners,
Our 2021 wildfire season was an exhausting one on many fronts.  We experienced unseasonable hot dry weather, a wave of unpredictable forest fires and smoke throughout our entire province. Thankfully, we had a bit of a reprieve this past summer, however forecasted trends in weather patterns show hotter and dryer summers ahead with an increased risk of wildfire.

In an ongoing attempt to keep all our residents safe, Predator Ridge Community Emergency Management Committee (PRCEMC) looked at additional avenues to enhance our community’s safety. We have been working with both Predator Ridge and Sparkling Hill, and we have all agreed that although the current technology of using cell phone and email alerts is effective, it may not be the total solution for our community should the City of Vernon ever need to get an emergency alert out to all the guests, visitors and Predator Ridge residents, especially in the middle of the night.  

Additional information can be found on our website: https://prcemc.ca/alert-siren/

PRESENT :

PRCEMC is proud to announce that we have been successful with our proposal to the City of Vernon regarding the acquisition, installation and management of the Predator Ridge Emergency Evacuation Siren (EES).  Over the past year we have worked closely with Predator Ridge, Sparkling Hill, and the City of Vernon, and we have all agreed that, although the current technology of using cell phone and email alerts is effective, it may not be the total solution for our community should the City of Vernon ever need to get an evacuation alert out to all guests, visitors and Predator Ridge residents, especially in the middle of the night.

We have looked at other communities that have successfully utilized cell phone and email technology in tandem with an EES to notify their community of imminent danger.  Using all these systems together provides far better coverage and peace of mind to all residents.

An updated cost estimate and call for additional bids was undertaken for the acquisition and installation of the EES and related equipment.  The final cost of the acquisition and installation is still in line to what had been forecasted at the beginning of the project: $112,000. Based on approximate population estimates of each stakeholder group throughout the fire season (PR Community, PR Resort and Sparkling Hill) we have agreed upon the following fair and equitable contributions to the project.

STAKEHOLDER CONTRIBUTION
Predator Ridge Residents60,000.00
Predator Ridge Resort (Wesbuild)30,000.00
Sparkling Hill Resort22,000.00
TOTAL PROJECT COST$112,000.00
Stakeholder Contribution Table

With approximately 750 households in the community, if each household contributes an amount between $75.00 and $100.00, we could easily reach our target goal of $60,000. 

We recognize that not everyone’s financial situation is the same, so we ask that you please support as best you can, and if your circumstances allow for additional funds, we would welcome the support.  At the end of the day we are all building a better, safer community together.

The EES is scheduled to be installed in April/May for the start of the 2023 Fire Season.

There will be information and educational sessions held this spring to ensure everyone understands the process and procedures should we find our community in an emergency evacuation situation where the EES would need to be activated.

If you have any questions please email us at: questions@prcemc.ca or visit the Siren Information page.

To provide your contribution, please visit our GoFundMe Page or click on the Donate now button below.

Thank you in advance for supporting Predator Ridge Community Emergency Management and our Community Safety Program. 

It takes all of us, working together, to build a stronger, safer community….

Your PRCEMC Team
Gord Wilson; Jane Toppozini; Karen Grimsrud; Robert Scott

How BC Wildfire Service responds to wildfires: Structure protection

BC Wildfire Service firefighting crews are not trained or equipped to fight structural fires. However, we can deploy structure protection specialists whose function is to help protect homes and other types of buildings that may be threatened by wildfire.

Read more about this on the BC Wildfire Website

Lessons from the Lytton fire

Publishing Date

September 12, 2022
Source: Union of BC Municipalities – Latest News

Wildfire is “inevitable, appropriate and essential” stated Dr. Jack Cohen, retired Research Scientist from US Forest Service, at a UBCM Convention study session on lessons learned from the 2021 Lytton fire. Cohen asked delegates to consider how we can prepare now to ensure that future community wildfire disasters are reduced in scale and impact.

Through a series of compelling images and videos from recent wildfire disasters in North America, Dr. Cohen explained that wildfires may initiate community disasters, but that it is the local condition of homes and structures, specifically the susceptibility to embers, that determines whether the fire will move through the community. “Ignition resistance is a community responsibility” stated Cohen, and it creates the conditions for effective suppression.

This was the case in the wildfire that destroyed much of the Village of Lytton.  Dr. Cohen explained that within an hour, the surface fire had burned four separate paths through the village and overwhelmed response capacity.  By his calculation, upwards of 300 firefighters would have been needed within a few hours in order to handle the number of structure fires that had ignited.

To answer the question of how homes and structures actually ignite, Alan Westhaver, wildfire consultant and researcher, walked delegates through the concept of the Home Ignition Zone and the most common ignition vulnerabilities: structures, vegetation and other flammable materials. 

Finally, a panel of local government representatives and the provincial lead for FireSmartBC provided additional insight. Highlighting the importance of local education, policy and planning tools, and dedicated FireSmart staff, the panel reminded delegates to focus on actions in their own neighbourhoods and communities.

Pointing to the principles of FireSmart, Dr. Cohen chimed “do the little things that make a big difference.”

City of Vernon is now on Alertable 

The City of Vernon’s Emergency Program has expanded its ability to share time sensitive emergency-related information with residents, businesses, and visitors, by arranging to use a digital notification system called Alertable. 

With this system, the City will be able to send direct notifications to subscribers through a smart phone app, by phone, text message, or email, to share information and direction related to large scale emergencies such as wildfires, floods, or other hazards that may occur within the municipal boundary. 

“In order to receive these notifications from the City of Vernon, you must subscribe to Alertable and choose your preferred method of communication. There is no cost to the public to receive these notifications and signing up is easy,” said Sue Saunders, Emergency Program Coordinator. “The City encourages all residents to subscribe today.” 

It’s important to note that only critical notifications (such as an Evacuation Order) will be delivered via phone call or text message. However, all types of notifications will be delivered via the Alertable smart phone app, email, Alertable.ca, home speaker systems, and social media. 

The smart phone app is the recommended option for using the system, which also allows users to access DriveBC and Environment Canada weather alerts on their smart phone device. 

Once you sign up for Alertable, be sure to follow ‘Vernon, BC’ to receive notifications for emergency situations within Vernon’s municipal boundary. 

The Alertable notification system is made in Canada. It provides many options to receive direct notifications through your preferred digital device. Notifications are fast, reliable, and easy to see and hear which can also be personalized by type and severity. 

For more information on how to subscribe or to download the free Alertable smart phone app, visit: www.vernon.ca/alertable. 

Insurance vs Emergency Support Services (ESS) 

 Important links 

Insurance Bureau of Canada: http://assets.ibc.ca/Documents/Disaster/BC-Wildfire-Additional-Living-Expenses.pdf .
Insurance Bureau of Canada 1-844-227-5422 

How Emergency Support Services Works: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/emergency-management/local-emergency-programs/ess/ess-how. ESS Info Centre 1-800-585-9559 

All Supports for Evacuees: https://www.emergencyinfobc.gov.bc.ca/wildfire-recovery/ 

Evacuation Alert 

Individuals in communities that have been placed under an Evacuation Alert must be prepared to leave their homes on short notice but do not need to immediately evacuate. 

Neither home/tenant/condo insurance nor ESS provides support for people who evacuate while under evacuation alert. If you choose to evacuate before an evacuation order, keep in mind that you are responsible for all expenses. If an order is implemented later, supports would start on the date the order is issued. Contact your First Nations government or Local Authority if you have any health or evacuation concerns. 

Evacuation Order 

Those who have been placed under an evacuation order must leave the area immediately. 

Insurance 

Standard home, tenant and condo insurance policies provide coverage for some of your expenses (including accommodation) when you leave your home due to a mandatory evacuation order. This coverage begins the day the evacuation order is issued and continues based on the limits of your policy. Depending on your policy, you might also qualify for other coverage even if your home has not suffered damage, for example for freezer contents spoiled if the power goes out while you are evacuated. 

Contact your insurance representative or insurance broker as soon as possible after you have safely evacuated to notify them of the evacuation order, determine what coverage applies to you, discuss any concerns about insurance deductibles, and begin a claim. If you don’t know who your broker is, need support with your insurance claim, or have other insurance questions, you can call the Insurance Bureau of Canada at 1-844-227-5422. 

Emergency Support Services 

When your insurance coverage has been exhausted while you are evacuated, you may be eligible for ESS supports. ESS provides needs-based, safety-net supports on a case-by-case basis to people displaced from their primary residence. Go to a Reception Centre, meet with an ESS responder, and complete a needs assessment. If deemed eligible for ESS supports, you may be issued referral vouchers for essentials such as food, clothing, lodging an/or incidentals depending on your needs. 

Evacuation from a secondary residence or vacation/recreation property is not eligible for ESS supports. If ordered to evacuate, you should return to your primary residence. 

Visitors to British Columbia – Alert or Order 

If you are visiting an area under evacuation alert or order, leave the area immediately and contact your travel insurance provider to notify them of the evacuation order and arrange supports. Stranded travellers should contact a Reception Center: https://www.emergencyinfobc.gov.bc.ca/wildfires-2021/ for more information. 

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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.