Quadra Island Wildfire Update & More

The fire discovered on Quadra Island last Thursday was brought under control on the weekend - sitting at close to two hectares.

Two large fires burning in Strathcona Park have merged, creating a much larger blaze. Crews are monitoring but have no plans to knock it down, allowing nature to take its course for the time being.

In the Okanagan, the fire chiefs in West Kelowna and Kelowna say they were both pleased yesterday with the way things have shifted for their crews.

The Federal government is freeing up more military assets to help with logistics, including evacuations and staging.

Two local teams from the Comox Valley have been deployed to help. One five person structure protection team made up of three members from Comox and two from Oyster River, along with a Comox fire engine, to West Kelowna.

On Saturday, the government introduced an emergency order to restrict travel for the purpose of staying in temporary accommodations in several communities in the Okanagan. This will help ensure accommodation is available for critical-response personnel and the tens of thousands of people evacuated due to wildfires.

As of yesterday afternoon, approximately 30,000 people were under an evacuation order and 36,000 were under an evacuation alert across B.C.

The Province is providing support to evacuees across B.C. who require assistance through Emergency Support Services (ESS), such as accommodation, food, clothing and other incidentals.

The government continues to encourage people who have been evacuated to stay with family and friends if possible so that accommodation is available for evacuees who do not have that option.

The province notes that support services in Alberta are extremely limited due to incoming evacuees from the Northwest Territories. Evacuees requiring supports are discouraged from travelling to Alberta, unless they have friends and families to stay with.