News
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September 13, 2024 - 2:40pm
The deadline for the East Kootenay Accessibility Plan Introductory Survey has been extended.
The survey will aid the East Kootenay Accessibility Committee in developing an Accessibility Plan for the RDEK’s Electoral Areas, City of Cranbrook, Village of Canal Flats, and District of Invermere.
“The Accessibility Plan is intended to identify, remove and prevent barriers to ensure our communities are accessible and inclusive so that residents are able to fully participate in all aspects of community life,” says RDEK Community Services Coordinator, Sandra Haley. “Our decision to extend the...
September 10, 2024 - 12:34pm
The Evacuation Order for 14 properties and the Evacuation Alert for 38 properties in the vicinity of the Kikomun Wildfire have been rescinded as the crews continue to make progress.
“Thanks to the efforts of the RDEK’s South Country Fire Departments and BC Wildfire Service, the Kikomun Wildfire is now being held and BC Wildfire has made the recommendation that it is safe to rescind the Order and the Alert,” says Regional Emergency Operations Centre Information Officer, Loree Duczek. “We cannot thank the firefighters on the ground and in the air enough. The location of the fire and the...
September 09, 2024 - 6:23pm
The Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK), has issued an EVACUATION ORDER and EVACUATION ALERT in an area west of the community of Baynes Lake as tinder dry conditions and gusting winds are fanning the flames of the Kikomun Wildfire (N12478), which is estimated to be 4 hectares in size.
The Evacuation ORDER includes 10 properties west of Baynes Lake as follows:
• 3296 PALMER RD
• 3306 PALMER RD
• 3326 PALMER RD
• 3338 PALMER RD
• 3339 PALMER RD
• 3348 PALMER RD
• 3330 SAUNDERS RD
• 684 SHARPE RD
• 512 SPRINGER RD
• 526 SPRINGER RD
In...
September 09, 2024 - 3:23pm
There is a tactical evacuation underway in the vicinity of Saunders and Palmer Roads in the Baynes Lake Area. Emergency responders are on scene conducting the tactical evacuation due to a wildfire in the area.
There are no other details available at this time – more will be shared as soon as we have more information.
September 04, 2024 - 9:32am
As many residents of the Columbia Valley continue to dig out from under a pile of debris and destruction following the August 23 windstorm, a group of volunteers will soon be arriving in the Valley to offer a hand to those who need it.
“We have been reaching out to every agency we can to seek support for residents who experienced widescale damage following the recent wind event,” explains Regional Information Officer Loree Duczek. “While we continue to work to have the event deemed eligible for Disaster Financial Assistance, we know there are still residents who need help dealing with...
August 27, 2024 - 2:08pm
A weekend windstorm has left a wake of downed trees and damage and as residents continue the clean-up, the East Kootenay Emergency Management Team is working to gather more specifics on the scope of the damage.
“We know there are widespread impacts across the Columbia Valley and are applying to the Province to have the windstorm be eligible for Disaster Financial Assistance (DFA); however, in order to present our request to the Province, we need to be able to clearly articulate the magnitude of the storm’s impacts,” explains Regional Information Officer Loree Duczek. “We have set up a...
August 20, 2024 - 6:29pm
As of 6:30pm local time (August 20, 2024) the Evacuation Alert has been RESCINDED for the Ravenshead Wildfire (N21610) east of Invermere in the Cross River/Palliser area.
“We want to acknowledge the incredible work by the crews which, in combination with improved fire conditions, have resulted in the BC Wildfire Service making the recommendation to us to rescind the Alert,” says Information Officer Loree Duczek. “The fire remains active and the work by firefighters and the support crews will continue. In addition, the Area Restriction remains in effect and there is no public access...
August 20, 2024 - 4:48pm
Members of the Edgewater Fire Department are on the scene of a fuel spill at a commercial location in Edgewater this afternoon.
“The spill occurred when a pipe burst while the driver was offloading fuel,” explains Columbia Valley Rural Fire & Rescue Chief Drew Sinclair. “We believe approximately 200 litres of gasoline escaped and our team did an excellent job of quickly containing the spill.”
8 Firefighters and 2 apparatus from the Edgewater Fire Department responded and are expected to remain on scene for the afternoon. The store remains open and neighbouring property owners were...
August 19, 2024 - 7:26am
Members of the Jaffray Fire Department responded to a fuel spill at a commercial location in Jaffray this morning.
“We believe several hundred litres of diesel fuel escaped after a weld on a connector hose broke,” explains Elk Valley & South Country Rural Fire & Rescue Chief Mike Hockley. “Out of an abundance of caution, the gas station, store and parking lot were closed. A vac truck is on site and a safety response officer is en route from High River. The Ministry of Environment has also been notified.”
6 Firefighters and 3 apparatus from the Jaffray Fire Department responded and...
August 13, 2024 - 3:28pm
For several months, the RDEK has been dealing with vandalism at its Windermere Beach Park and recently has noticed an increase in garbage and damage in the wake of large parties being held after hours.
“Our Parks contractors have been working tirelessly daily to clean up the garbage and debris left behind by large groups of mostly young people who are not only vandalizing our site, but who are causing these same issues for neighbours on private properties around the Beach,” says RDEK Electoral Area F Director Susan Clovechok. “We’ve been locking the gates nightly and ahead of the August...
August 09, 2024 - 5:52pm
As crews continue to make progress on the Ravenshead Wildfire (N21610), the Evacuation ORDER that was enacted on July 25th, 2024, has been downgraded to an Evacuation ALERT.
The Evacuation ALERT is in effect for 9 properties, including Nipika Mountain Resort, Cross River Education & Retreat Centre, Cross River Forest Service Road, and Cross River Canyon Recreation Site. “While this is great news, the fire remains active and residents should continue to follow updated information on the fire and remain prepared so that they are ready to leave if conditions worsen and an Order should need...
August 06, 2024 - 4:58pm
The RDEK has a contractor on site at the Central Subregion Landfill working to extinguish a small fire in a green waste pile on site.
“This is a smoldering fire and is currently being actioned. There is no risk of spread and no impact on the landfill’s regular operations at this time,” says General Manager of Engineering & Environmental Services, Kevin Paterson. “Our contractor GFL did an excellent job on site of immediately responding and keeping it confined to the ground green waste pile.”
The contractor is slowly and carefully peeling back layers of the ground green waste pile to...
August 06, 2024 - 11:51am
The Evacuation ORDER for 6 properties in the Whiteswan Lake area has been rescinded.
The ORDER was put in place July 25, 2024, due to the Mount Morro Wildfire (N21014) and included 4 private properties as well as Home Basin Campground and Inlet Creek Campground on Whiteswan Lake.
“Following the recent significant precipitation on the fire and given current fire behaviour, the BC Wildfire Service has recommended a full rescind of the Evacuation Order,” says Information Officer, Loree Duczek.
The BC Wildfire Service Area Restriction for the Mount Morro fire remains in effect and includes...
August 01, 2024 - 10:19am
The East Kootenay Emergency Management Program is urging residents and visitors to include emergency preparedness into their pre-weekend planning.
“No matter where your travels may take you this long weekend, it is important to be aware of local conditions and to remain prepared as conditions can change rapidly given the current temperatures and forecast,” says Information Officer, Loree Duczek. “There are so many simple steps we can take to make sure we are properly informed, abiding by any restrictions that are in place and aware of local conditions from factual sources.”
There is a...
July 30, 2024 - 2:21pm
Members of the RDEK’s Regional Fire & Rescue Services have deployed to support the BC Wildfire Service’s structural protection efforts in affected communities to the north and west.
“One of our tenders and two members of the Columbia Valley Rural Fire & Rescue Service are currently in Parson supporting sprinkler protection efforts on the Dogtooth FSR fire,” says RDEK Protective Services Manager, Christina Carbrey. “In addition, a team of five from the Elk Valley & South Country Rural Fire and Rescue Service has deployed to the Argenta area in the Regional District of Central...
July 26, 2024 - 2:10pm
The Evacuation Alerts for the Madias Creek wildfire have been rescinded today as crews continue to make progress.
“Our crews continue to do regular patrols to identify and deal with hot spots within the fire’s perimeter,” says Regional Emergency Operations Centre Information Officer, Loree Duczek. “Over the past few days we have had some challenging weather conditions including strong sustained winds and even stronger gusts and the fire has stayed within it’s existing boundaries and has not experienced any growth.”
The fire is currently classified as Being Held. Following the patrols...
July 25, 2024 - 3:50pm
The Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK), has issued an Evacuation ORDER for the Palliser / Cross River area as the Ravenshead Fire (N21610) continues to be fanned by wind and dry conditions.
The EVACUATION ORDER is in effect as of 3:00pm for 9 properties, including:
NIPIKA MOUNTAIN RESORT (9200 Settler’s Rd)
CROSS RIVER EDUCATION & RETREAT CENTRE (9272 Cross River Road)
CROSS RIVER FOREST SERVICE ROAD
CROSS RIVER CANYON RECREATION SITE
A copy of the Order and associated map are posted on www.rdek.bc.ca.
“A tactical evacuation was executed this morning by BC Wildfire and...
July 25, 2024 - 2:18pm
The Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK), has issued an Evacuation ORDER in the Whiteswan Lake area as the Mount Morro wildfire (N21014) expands to the north.
The ORDER is for 4 properties as well as Home Basin Campground and Inlet Creek Campground on Whiteswan Lake. A copy of the Order and associated map are posted on www.rdek.bc.ca.
“Emergency Services personnel are in the process of doing in-person notification to the affected properties,” says Information Officer, Loree Duczek.
The BC Wildfire Service has issued an amended Area Restriction for the Mount Morro fire, which...
July 24, 2024 - 2:19pm
The Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK), has rescinded an Evacuation ORDER and EVACUATION ALERT for the Island Pond wildfire (N21295) northwest of Premier Lake.
The Evacuation ORDER being rescinded includes two civic addresses south of Island Pond.
The Evacuation ALERT being rescinded includes 67 civic addresses northwest of Premier Lake.
The Island Pond wildfire, which broke out on July 20, is now classified as Being Held and is not expected to grow further or beyond determined boundaries.
Elsewhere in the Regional District, Evacuation Alerts remain in place for 281 civic...
July 24, 2024 - 1:00pm
Monday, July 22, 2024 was a challenging day for our Fire Service as the Madias Creek Fire broke out adjacent to the highway between Fairmont and Windermere. Our Volunteer Firefighters responded quickly and worked tirelessly alongside BC Wildfire Service Crews. Unified command was quickly established, and extra air resources were called in.
In total, 8 members from Fairmont and 12 members from Windermere responded with 3 apparatus each as well as 2 command vehicles and 2 Edgewater members who happened to be in the area.
Other than highway access at the base of the fire, there was no road...
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