White Rock Lake Wildfire Community Recovery

The recordings of live streamed info sessions are available at youtube.com/regionaldistrict

• Provincial post-wildfire natural hazards risk analysis – The BC Government has just completed a post-wildfire natural hazard risk analysis overview and reconnaissance assessment.
  • Following an initial review of the 83 thousand hectare wildfire area for water-repellant (hydrophobic) soils that may be susceptible to floods or landslides from rain events or spring runoff, three watersheds within the RDCO have been identified as having a high hazard and high risk where properties or structures may be impacted by sedimentation or overland flows. 
  • The Province is now following up with further work in these areas that have been identified, for possible actions including specific mitigation options. This will provide important information for the RDCO to assist residents and property owners considering rebuilding.

• Capacity Needs Assessment – Two case workers are working through the RDCO Community Resiliency/Recovery Centre directly with those people who lost property in the wildfire. Approximately 47 per cent of the capacity needs and assessments have been completed so far. This work is helping us better coordinate and provide the assistance individuals need.
• Foreshore Environmental/Hazardous conditions assessment - The first phase, in-field work for this project has been completed. Health and safety issues that could pose a threat to drinking water sources have been assessed identifying some areas in the Killiney Beach and Estamont areas that could be subject to possible overland flooding or land slippage due to the intensity of the wildfire. As detailed information is confirmed, we will contact property owners to discuss possible next steps.

  The second phase of this project has started and involves a recovery assessment that will focus on the policy and regulatory requirements of provincial and local government agencies for recovery or rebuilding affected structures. 

  This is an opportunity to streamline the process and regulations on behalf of property owners, rather than requiring individual assessments.

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.

• Link for more details

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. ​

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.

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:

• volunteer labour to clean up damaged yards or dwellings
• clean up and short salvagables
• removal of damaged contents
• minor rebuilds and repairs

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 

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.

• List of counselling services
• BC 211 - call 211
• BC Crisis Line - 310-6789 (no need to dial area code)
• Canadian Red Cross
  • Coping with crisis
  • Specialized crisis lines
• Emergency Support Services 

• Loss of primary residence - EMBC will continue to support households who have experienced the loss of their primary residence with an extension of accommodation, private billeting and food supports to November 30.  Eligibility for this extension will remain in place after an evacuation order is lifted for those who are unable to return to their primary residence.  

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.

• Utility bills for the July through September period are out and customers of the Killiney Beach, Westshore Estates and Upper Fintry, Shalal Road, Valley of the Sun water systems should notice some substantial relief in their basic user and consumption fees. Those specific fees have been reduced by approximately two-thirds (Aug.- Sept) from the normal three month period. The Asset Renewal water fee and garbage and waste reduction utility fees have not been changed for this quarterly billing.
• Any property that sustained a total loss in the wildfire will not be charged any garbage and recycling fee or water user fee during this billing quarter (Oct.- Dec.) 2021 as regulatory bylaws require a building on a property. This will be reflected on your next utility invoice.

• 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. 

Any customer of those systems with questions about their utility billing may contact our Finance staff at 250-469-6239.

• In addition, the 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. For more information, please contact our Community Services staff at planning@rdco.com or 250-469-6227.

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 North Westside Rd Transfer Station 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.  

• the Westside Residential Waste Disposal and Recycling Centre (2640 Asquith Road, West Kelowna) can accept large appliances and furniture but does not take electronics, small appliances or building materials. Normal rates and site rules remain in place at this facility. Please note this facility will not receive fridges or freezers containing 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

• We are continuing efforts to set up a concrete disposal location for foundations etc. that is closer and more convenient for North Westside residents and their communities. Once a location is confirmed, we will provide this information on our Recovery webpage: rdco.com/recovery
• We are working with North Westside Fire Rescue to coordinate a wood waste disposal location for residents.  When we have more information you will find it here.

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.

• Those affected residents that have pre-paid for October, November, and December 2021 Garbage and Recycling fees will be refunded for those months.

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.

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. 

For those requiring assistance with residential insurance there are two options available:

• Canadian Red Cross - has case workers available to provide support on property insurance. Contact 1-800-863-6582
• Insurance Bureau of Canada - is providing information to assist insurance policy holders. Contact 1-844-227-542  You can visit the Bureau website for more information on the process of an insurance claim as a result of a BC wildfire at www.ibc.ca/ns/disaster/bcwildfire.

Insurance tips for wildfire emergency preparedness and recovery

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.
As these areas are sensitive to disturbance, if you do have authorization to go into the closure areas, please stay on existing roads to minimize any disturbance.  

• More detailed information about backcountry vehicle closures

The Regional Board has received an interim White Rock Lake 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.

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.

The Canadian Red Cross is providing assistance and support in many areas to help people impacted by the 2021 wildfires including:

• assistance in assessing and understanding recovery supports available
• help in navigating the recovery process, including support with forms and processes
• households who were evacuated from the Lytton, B.C. region due to wildfires, and
• referrals to other services

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:

• housing repair and reconstruction support
• interim housing assistance (see Housing support info above)

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. 

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 250-469-6111 or inspection@rdco.com

Community Services Building and Inspections staff continue to work with individual property owners impacted by the wildfire.

As of Nov. 22, 35 Demolition permits and three building permits have been issued and additional applications are being 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.

• Step-by-step Building Permit and Demolition Permit process guide
• Building Permit application checklist 

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.  

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.

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. 

All customers who weren’t contacted by TELUS for credits on outages for August, September, October or November please email Shelley.McDonald@TELUS.com for further support.

Telus has also been doing a clean-up of its poles and other related by-products of the build. It is a large task but slowly and surely, the beautiful area of Westide is becoming a reality.  

Many thanks for everyone’s patience and support during a very difficult summer. Telus says it is very happy to see progress on its build and having customers back in service.

Each of the three RDCO water systems serving communities along Westside Road have varied 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:

• Killiney Beach - Do Not Consume notice removed on Nov. 10.  Following extensive water sample testing and infrastructure assessments, the RDCO in consultation with Interior Health removed the notice.  All water from the tap is safe and within acceptable Canadian Drinking Water Guidelines for water quality. 
• Upper Fintry, Shalal Road, Valley of the Sun
• Westshore Estates

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.  

• Estamont private water utility – pumphouse was destroyed by the wildfire. A detailed assessment is complete – system is operating on a generator until temporary power pole is connected – residents notified not to consume the water - contact the system operator for more details.  Free potable water is available at the North Westside fire hall station 102 - 7355N Westside Road North.
• Private well owners – contact a certified contractor to confirm the condition of your water system

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.