Recovery information
The White Rock Lake Wildfire impacted the communities Central Okanagan West Electoral Area off of Westside Road near the northern boundary of the Regional District of Central Okanagan.
Regional District of Central Okanagan recovery office staff and resources are available to assist in the recovery of neighbourhoods impacted by the fire and to help residents who were evacuated or suffered property damage or loss.
Assessments have confirmed that 75 properties in the Estamont, Killiney Beach and Beau Park areas sustained significant damage. Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) staff have confirmed property owners and notified them directly. No structures in Westshore Estates have been identified as lost or significantly damaged.
The resources provided below will be updated as new information becomes available.
Area hazardous conditions assessments update |
Two separate, but connected post-wildfire hazardous condition assessments have been completed: one for the Province and a second Community Hazard Assessment for the RDCO Killiney Beach and Estamont areas. Presentations updating the work to date on the RDCO White Rock Lake Wildfire Recovery Plan and the two hazardous condition assessment were made to the Regional Board meeting on Thursday, February 10. The meeting was livestreamed and a link to the meeting recording can be found at www.rdco.com/agenda. Here are links to the information reports, presentations and assessments for the meeting:
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BC Assessment and wildfires |
Property owners impacted by the 2021 wildfires should contact staff with BC Assessment before October 31 to help determine their property's accurate status. Reporting any damage or loss will assist BC Assessment to have an accurate assessment of the property, which could impact changes to the 2022 property taxes. Impacted property owners can contact BC Assessment toll-free at 1-866-valueBC (1-866-825-8322) or online at bcassessment.ca Regular office hours are Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Property owners can simply provide their property's address and state that they want to report their property's physical condition and the extent of any damage resulting from the wildfires. |
BC Hydro |
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 is also offering assistance to wildfire evacuees and those who have lost their home. Danger/hazard trees within a BC Hydro corridor are being addressed by the utility. |
Christian Disaster Relief |
Volunteer members of Christian Disaster Relief are available to assist property owners impacted by wildfire with recovery efforts. An initial assessment will help determine what needs to be done. Among the possible services from CDR volunteers:
For more information on CDR Okanagan wildfire recovery please contact: Logan Wiebe - 250-309-2216 loganwiebe@gmail.com or Jamie Reimer - 250-309-0190 jamie.cdr@outlook.com |
Counselling and Mental Health Resources |
There are a number of agencies available for residents in need of counselling services as a result of the anxiety and stresses posed by the wildfire and recovery efforts. It's important to know that no matter how you are feeling, you are not alone and there is help.
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Culverts-roadside ditch maintenance and guidelines |
Roadside ditches and culverts are important for ensuring the safety of road users in addition to proper water flow and runoff during spring snowmelt, flood and heavy rain events. Property owners are responsible for clearing debris and ice from their residential driveway culverts, As well, they are required to replace any damaged or collapsed culverts at the entrance to their property. The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure has detailed online information about the design, construction, drainage, grade, sighting and excavating of driveway accesses and culverts. If you have any concerns and wish to report road maintenance issues associated with freshet or other events, please contact AIM Roads - 1-866-222-4204. Property owners in the RDCO electoral areas will receive Driveway Guideline information with any building permit that is issued. |
Debris management program |
This program has been created by the RDCO with funding support from the Canadian Red Cross and Emergency Management BC. We recognize that it's important for the removal of debris on properties such as ash, contaminated soil and concrete and hazard trees that may impact public safety and future rebuilding. This program will help eligible individuals without insurance or without adequate insurance coverage, that would otherwise be left with expenses to clear their properties of debris resulting from the wildfire. As part of step 1, case workers are reaching out to determine those who are interested in participating in this program and answering any questions. Those individuals will be reviewed to confirm insurance status and eligibility for this program. Please view the Debris Removal Program Process information and FAQ |
Emergency Support Services |
Emergency Management BC has indicated an extension of ESS supports for eligible evacuees
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Fees and permits relief |
The Regional Board has adopted amendments to the fees and charges bylaws for the Killiney Beach, Westshore Estates and Upper Fintry, Shalal Road, Valley of the Sun water systems to provide some partial water fee relief for customers impacted by White Rock Lake wildfire evacuations. With the changes, customers of these water systems do not have to pay a substantial portion of the basic user and consumption fees of utility bills from August 1 through September 30.
Any customer of those systems with questions about their utility billing may contact our Finance staff at 250-469-6239.
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Fridges, garbage and waste |
North Westside Transfer Station hours: As October 1, the North Westside Road transfer station has returned to normal operating days/hours. The North Westside transfer station is located along the Sugarloaf Forest Service Road off Westside Road approximately 3.2 kms past Udell Road in Killiney Beach. The North Westside Transfer Station is only open to RDCO residents, property owners and tenants. For residents outside the Regional District of Central Okanagan please contact your local government. The facility is set up to receive bagged waste and non-burnt yard waste. The transfer station cannot take building materials, furniture, or large appliances, such as fridges and freezers. Hazardous material and demolition waste such as wood from damaged structures or burnt vehicles cannot be accepted. Visit rdco.com/recycle for more waste disposal options. For a detailed disposal guide on how to manage your wildfire cleanup efforts visit www.rdco.com/recovery for Return to Home information.
Fridge and freezer disposal: Residents are asked to confirm with their Insurer before disposing of fridges or freezers. Empty appliances may be disposed of for free at either the Glenmore Landfill and the Westside Residential Waste Disposal and Recycling Centre (2640 Asquith Road, West Kelowna). All refrigerators or freezers must not contain food waste.
These services are available only to RDCO residents, property owners, and tenants. Properties outside of the RDCO must work with their community to dispose of waste following the White Rock Lake Wildfire.
Concrete and wood waste
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Flooding - Landslide information |
Wildfires may increase possible risks associated with flooding and landslides. The following links provide information for property owners to consider in their emergency preparedness.
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Garbage, recycling and water utility fees |
Garbage and Recycling fees for those with destroyed primary structures will not be charged to property owners from October 2021 and onwards, until rebuilding of the primary structure is complete.
Water fees for RDCO water systems are composed of User fees (basic and consumption) and Asset Renewal fees. Asset Renewal fees apply to all properties in the water service area and, as such, will continue to apply to properties where primary structures were destroyed. User fees apply only when water supplying the property is on. The curb stop valve for properties with primary structures destroyed have been turned off and User fees will not apply until approved that the water can be turned on. If you have questions please contact our Utility Billing staff - 250-469-6239 or email. |
Housing support for residents affected by wildfires |
The Province is teaming up with the Canadian Red Cross to provide eligible residents, who were affected by the 2021 wildfires, with financial assistance to support their interim housing needs during their recovery. View detail housing support information Starting December 2021, the Province will provide eligible households with financial assistance of $1,300 per month while they are supported in the transition to long-term housing. This program will be facilitated through an agreement with the Canadian Red Cross. The Canadian Red Cross will contact eligible households to assess their unique needs and discuss next steps to help cover their interim housing needs and find longer-term housing solutions. This is in addition to its work offering personalized support to people affected by the 2021 wildfires to discuss their unique needs and next steps for early and long-term recovery. For more information on Canadian Red Cross services and how to access them, call 1-800-863-6582, Monday to Friday, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. (Pacific time), or visit the BC wildfire support webpage. |
Insurance |
For those requiring assistance with residential insurance there are two options available:
Insurance tips for wildfire emergency preparedness and recovery |
Backcountry Motor Vehicle Closures |
The BC Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development (FLNRORD) has instituted Emergency Motor Vehicle Closures (MVC) under the Motor Vehicle Prohibition Regulation (MVPR) of the Wildlife Act (Section 108) for major wildfire areas, including over 99,000 hectares of the White Rock Lake wildfire. The motor vehicle prohibitions close all backcountry roads and trails in the above areas to all unauthorized use of vehicles (highways and other roads maintained by the Ministry of Transportation will remain open). This includes automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, motorhomes, e-bikes, and all types of off-road recreational vehicles, wheeled or tracked, including snowmobiles. Non-motorized uses (e.g. bicycle, horse) will not restricted. These motor vehicle closures do not apply to authorized commercial activities other than hunting. As such, any activities performed in association with a tenure or agreement under a provincial statute will be permitted in the closed area. Additionally, the motor vehicle closure will not restrict individuals using motor vehicles on, or requiring access to, private land. |
RDCO recovery plan |
The Regional Board has received an updated RDCO Wildfire Recovery Plan. The document outlines the initial short, medium and long-term recovery objectives in seven key areas and will evolve as the response moves forward. A Community Resiliency/Recovery manager is working to ensure the objectives are achieved. An update on this process was presented at the Regional Board meeting Thursday, February 10 (See links above in Area hazardous conditions assessments update). Reports and presentations may be viewed at online along with a video of the session at www.rdco.com/agenda for the Feb. 10 meeting under Past Meetings-Regional Board. |
Provincial recovery information |
The Province has recovery and support information provided by EmergencyInfoBC. |
Provincial supports for wildfire impacted business |
The Province has created an overview of current supports available to businesses that have been impacted by the 2021 wildfires. For information on other supports for businesses contact Small Business BC. |
Red Cross - updated |
In-person visits available in May Case managers will be available for in-person, local visits:
The Canadian Red Cross is providing assistance and support in many areas to help people impacted by the 2021 wildfires including:
It's important for any affected resident to register in order to receive assistance. Visit www.redcross.ca/2021bcfires for more information. In November, the Red Cross provided updated recovery support assistance information which includes:
The Red Cross is contacting people who lost their primary residents or under mandatory evacuation order to assess their unique needs and discuss next steps. |
Rebuilding and redevelopment |
For any Planning or Land Use related inquiries, please contact RDCO Planning Services staff at 250-469-6227 or planning@rdco.com For any Building Permit or Inspections related inquiries, please contact RDCO Inspections Services staff at 250-469-6211 or inspection@rdco.com Community Services Building and Inspections staff continue to work with individual property owners impacted by the wildfire. As of March 29, 51 Demolition permit applications have been received, 50 approved and 39 completed. In addition, eight building permit applications have been received and four been issued. One Development permit application has been received. It's important for affected property owners with fire damage to contact our staff in order to make an application. A demolition permit is the first step in the process to ensure proper waste disposal and that any remediation requirements are met, prior to any construction taking place.
The Regional Board has approved waiving fees for Demolition and Temporary Building permits for residents affected by the fire. It also approved extending the Temporary Building permit use of a recreational vehicle as temporary dwelling to two years from one, on a property that is actively under post-wildfire construction. |
Roads |
In Electoral Areas, the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure is responsible for roads including safety and maintenance. The ministry is also responsible for dangerous/hazardous tree identification and removal within road right-of-ways. For road emergencies within your neighbourhood, call the Province’s contractor AIM Roads at 1-866-222-4204. For information about road closures or delays on Westside Road, visit drivebc.ca For general comments or information you can also call the Ministry of Transportation and Highways office at 250-712-3660. |
Septic systems |
Please contact a certified contractor to discuss any concerns you may have about the condition or status of the septic system on your property. If you are rebuilding, a certified contractor will ensure your system is sufficient to meet the wastewater needs of your new home. |
Terrace Mountain wildfire risk reduction project |
The Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development Okanagan Shuswap Natural Resource District is conducting a fuel management project in the Terrace Mountain area through spring 2022. The intent is to reduce the threat of wildfire in the Wildland Urban Interface area near the La Casa community. |
Virtual information sessions |
Flood/landslide online info session May 12 Because of the White Rock Lake wildfire, some areas of the North Westside are at higher risk for overland flooding and potential landslides. To raise awareness and help you get prepared, the Regional District held a YouTube live online information session on Thursday, May 12 from 2 - 3 p.m. The session featured expert guests from Clarke Geoscience, Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, Emergency Management BC and the RDCO:
For those that were not able to join the livestream, here's a link to the recorded session.
The RDCO also has a library of YouTube previous information updates available to residents in the Central Okanagan impacted by the White Rock Lake wildfire. The recordings of live streamed info sessions are available at youtube.com/regionaldistrict |
Water systems |
Each of the three RDCO water systems serving communities along Westside Road sustained various impacts from firefighting and suppression efforts with the White Rock Lake wildfire. Along with Interior Health, our goal is to ensure water quality and safety for residents returning to their homes. Click on the links below to see the updated status for water advisories and notices for each system:
We thank Killiney Beach customers for their patience and understanding throughout the major inconvenience of the Do Not Consume Advisory. Again, everyone's safety and health is our primary goal.
The Regional Board has adopted amendments to the fees and charges bylaws for the Killiney Beach, Westshore Estates and Upper Fintry, Shalal Road, Valley of the Sun water systems to provide some partial water fee relief for customers impacted by White Rock Lake wildfire evacuations. With the changes, customers of these water systems do not have to pay the basic user and consumption fees portion of utility bills from August 1 through September 30. |
Wildlife |
BC Conservation Office: To report a conflict with wildlife that threatens public safety call 1-877-952-7277 |
Contact Us
Recovery staff are available to help you Monday through Friday (excluding holidays) from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Email recovery@rdco.com
Phone 250-469-6111
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