White Rock Lake Wildfire Community Recovery

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:

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 

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.

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

• Loss of primary residence - This previous EMBC program to support households who have experienced the loss of their primary residence with an extension of accommodation, private billeting and food supports is now being provided through the Canadian Red Cross (please see section below - Housing support for residences affected by wildfires).  

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 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.  

• 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

• See the Debris management program information above.
• 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.

Wildfires may increase possible risks associated with flooding and landslides.  The following links provide information for property owners to consider in their emergency preparedness.

• Landslides and flooding risks due to wildfires (Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development) 
• Know your hazards Landslides - (Prepared BC) 
• Be prepared for floods (Prepared BC)
• Landslide Hazards (GetPrepared Canada)

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 working 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 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. 

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 250-469-6211 or inspection@rdco.com

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

As of May, 53 Demolition permit applications have been received, 53 approved and 41 completed.  In addition, 12 building permit applications have been received and seven been issued.  Two Development permit applications have been received and are under review.

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. 

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:

• Review the area hazardous conditions assessments and what affected property owners should monitor
• Discuss how to prepare for potential flood and land movement 
• Review general emergency preparedness for your family
• Provide updates on the RDCO Resiliency and Recovery office

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

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:

• Killiney Beach 
• Upper Fintry, Shalal Road, Valley of the Sun
• Westshore Estates
  
  
• Water System Recovery Plan
  
  

• 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 – Do Not Consume order remains in place for system customers - contact the system operator for more details. As of Tuesday, May 31, the free potable water fill station at the North Westside fire hall station 102 - 7355N Westside Road North is no longer available as demand has decreased and residents have made alternate water arrangements.
• Private well owners – contact a certified contractor to confirm the condition of your water system

The Regional Board 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, 2021.