McDougall Creek wildfire recovery and Resiliency Centre

If you are experiencing feelings of tremendous loss and anxiety, you do not have to go through this alone. There are resources available to help provide coping strategies and support to manage stress, worry and well-being.

Wellness Together Canada provides immediate assistance in a mental health crisis and provides a list of resources for all ages affected by the wildfire.

Visit their website or download the counselling and crisis support contact list to speak to a professional counsellor. Services are free and confidential any time of the day. You can also text for crisis support:

• Adults: Type/text WELLNESS to the number 741741
• Youth: Type/text WELLNESS to the number 686868
• Frontline workers: Type/text FRONTLINE to the number 741741
• Indigenous peoples can also message Hope for Wellness through https://www.hopeforwellness.ca/

Provincial post-wildfire natural hazards risk analysis – looks at the impacts of the wildfire in areas such as water repellant (hydrophobic) soils which could result in slide/land slippage in any heavy rainfall or spring freshet event.

• Read the interim results of the Post-Wildfire Natural Hazard Risk Analysis Report for Priority Sites.
• Visit the the Province of B.C.'s Post Wildfire Natural Risk Assessment Hub to view reports across the province.

In the event of wildfire and during recovery, stay away from and do not touch BC Hydro infrastructure (lines, poles, towers, hydro boxes, etc.). Assume that these may be energized and may cause harm.

For any billing inquiries, contact BC Hydro customer service at 1-800-BCHYDRO (1-800-224-9376). BC Hydro also offers help for evacuees.

Regional District of Central Okanagan

A demolition permit is the first step in the process to ensure proper waste disposal and remediation requirements are met prior to any construction. To date, the RDCO has issued 25 demolition permits.

It's important for affected property owners with fire damage to contact our staff to make an application.

For residents of RDCO, property file requests and other building related questions can be directed to rdco.com/requests.

• For Planning or Land Use inquiries, contact planning@rdco.com or 250-469-6227
• For Building Permit or Inspections inquiries, contact inspection@rdco.com or 250-469-6211

See the step-by-step building permit and demolition permit process map.

For more information about building and inspections, visit rdco.com/building

Trees with visible damage

• Impacted trees with visible damage from wildfire should be inspected by a qualified arborists or danger tree assessor familiar with fire effects to access the health and safety of trees on private property as soon as possible. 

Marked trees

• You may return to find trees on property that have been inspected and marked with spray paint or tape. This was done by emergency responders for their safety to work in the area, or work in the area if needed, for fire suppression and other emergency activities.
• Any marked trees that were deemed to be hazardous over the short term (for people to return) were removed. Burned trees can deteriorate over the mid to long term or become unstable in burned ground where their roots have been impacted and sustained winds have been realized post inspection.
• For the long-term safety of your property, we suggest these be inspected by a qualified arborist to assess the health and safety of trees on private property as soon as possible.

Felled trees

• You may return to find trees on property that have been felled and may be cut into logs. This was done by emergency responders for their safety to work in the area for fire suppression and other emergency activities. It is strongly recommended wood on the ground be removed as soon as possible as it contributes to ground fuel and fire risk. 

Insurance and trees

• Check with your insurance company about coverage for damaged trees. Note that WorksafeBC requires danger trees and hazards be addressed before workers can safely work in in an area. Hazard trees will need to be assessed if work needs to be conducted, such as repair or reconstruction of any structures.

Waste guidelines for fire damaged materials
The Glenmore Landfill can accept several types of waste generated by the McDougall Creek Wildfire, but there are specific requirements and conditions for the disposal of each material.

Open: Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday from 7:30 am – 4 pm (gate closes at 3:50 pm)

Accepted Materials:

• Scrap metal, including large appliances (fridges and freezers must be empty completely)
• Garbage including household waste, bulky items, painted or treated wood
• Tires
• Clean wood – dimensional lumber, unpainted, untreated wood (please separate from other wastes)
• Unburnt yard waste (grass, leaves, twigs less than 5 cm in diameter),
• Small amounts of burnt yard waste may be accepted but will be handled as garbage and charged at garbage rate (keep separate from unburnt yard waste whenever possible)
• Residential Recycling (cardboard, paper, plastic packaging, tin)
• Automotive batteries, propane tanks
• Mattresses

Not Accepted:

• Commercial material, contractor waste
• Burnt or partially burnt structures (including garbage, shed or homes) – see return to home guide for information on how to deal with this material
• Hazardous wastes (e.g. paints, pesticides, oils, solvents, cleaners etc.)
• Large volumes of burnt yard waste, this material is garbage and our facility cannot handle large volumes (ex. Dump trailer loads worth - please take directly to Glenmore landfill, garbage rate applies)
• Drywall
• Dirt, sod
• Concrete, asphalt, bricks, rocks
• Asphalt shingles
• Large stumps, logs or limbs (over 5 cm in diameter)
• Electronics, small appliances

For more information and rates at this facility, please visit rdco.com/recycle, email recycle@rdco.com or call the Regional Waste Reduction Office at 250-469-6250.

Read the latest news letter from Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness (EMCR) ESS Fall 2023 newsletter. Highlights include the hosting of a series of engagement sessions, including with communities and partner organizations from across the province to inform future program improvements. These sessions will be designed to assist in actioning the Ombudsperson’s report, "Fairness in a Changing Climate: Ensuring disaster Supports are accessible, equitable and adaptable" and gather information to be shared with the expert Task Force and capture learnings from the 2023 wildfire season.

For more information on fire retardant clean up, check out details provided by BC Wildfire.

• Fire retardant (Phos-Chek® LC95A) information sheet
• Cleaning/removing fire retardant from surfaces
• Environmental fact sheet  

The General Insurance Ombudservice (GIO) is an organization that works with customers who have concerns/complaints regarding their insurer to help get those resolved. It’s a national organization that provides free and impartial support – its independent from the insurance industry. Visit their website to learn more.

The Province has information on how to recover after a wildfire.

In Electoral Area West, the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure is responsible for roads including safety and maintenance. 

• For road emergencies within the RDCO West Electoral Area, including Highway 97 call the Province’s contractor, AIM Roads at their 24-hour hotline: 1-866-222-4204.
• For information about provincial road closures or delays, visit drivebc.ca

In West Kelowna and Westbank First Nation areas:

• Westbank First Nation, Public Works streets and park maintenance
• City of West Kelowna, Public Works roads and sidewalks

The Canadian Red Cross is providing support for the 2023 British Columbia Fires. It's important for any affected resident to register in order to receive assistance. You can do that online, or by calling 1-800-863-6582.

The Central Okanagan Food Bank provides food and other assistance to those needing help regardless of race, national or ethnic origin, citizenship, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, income source, age, and mental or physical ability. To register visit COFB online: cofoodbank.com/newclient or call 250-763-7161.

Habitat for Humanity Okanagan is an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity Canada, a national, non-profit organization working towards a world where everyone has a safe and decent place to live. Habitat for Humanity’s model empowers families to invest in home ownership. Through donated labour, efficient management and tax-deductible donations of money and materials, Habitat for Humanity builds and rehabilitates simple, decent houses. 

Office phone number: 778 755-4346

Address: 1793 Ross Rd, West Kelowna, BC

The Salvation Army is an international Christian Organization and the largest non- governmental provider of social services in Canada.  The Westside Salvation Army is the local branch, serving the communities of Westbank, West Kelowna and Peachland.  As of September 2023, The Westside Salvation Army has hired a Fire Recovery Caseworker to support households negatively affected by the McDougall Creek Wildfire.  Supports include grocery and gas gift cards, clothing vouchers, linens, new mattresses, spiritual and emotional care, resource navigation, as well as financial relief grants. To access these supports please call our Fire Recovery Casework Team at 250-258-2990 or visit www.WestsideSA.ca for more information

Samaritan's Purse a non-governmental organization that mobilizes specialized staff and equipment as well as hundreds of volunteers when natural disasters occur on Canadian soil. 

• Report a wildlife conflict to BC Conservation Officer Service that threatens public safety call: 1-877-952-7277 
• For information on preventing wildlife conflict see WildsafeBC.

Media inquires can be directed to:
Phone:  250-469-6193
Email: communications@rdco.com

For previous news releases on the Grouse Complex Wildfire, visit cordemergency.ca