Quilpituk Creek Wildfire Community Return Home

As you return, please be prepared for conditions that may be different from when you left. 
Essential services may take time to fully return, and some areas may continue to experience 
impacts from wildfire response activities. Emergency officials worked around the clock to protect the surrounding communities and will continue to support recovery efforts.

We recommend bringing enough supplies to be self-sufficient, including:
• Bottled drinking water or an alternate source of potable water
• Non-perishable food and any special dietary items
• Prescription medications and medical supplies
• Pet food, water and supplies
• Cell phone chargers and backup power sources
• Flashlights and extra batteries
• Cash, as payment systems may be unavailable
Drinking water safety
Before consuming tap water:
• You will enter the community with varying water quality, and you may experience
service interruptions as systems are brought to full operation. For status updates for
public and private utilities, residents should check with their utility for a status update or 
visit drinkingwaterforeveryone.ca/advisorymap.
• Continue to check the status of water quality notices. Follow the direction of your wate
utility provider. You may need bottled water or to boil water before drinking, preparing 
food, brushing teeth, or making infant formula.
• Consider storing additional drinking water until normal service is fully restored

Wildfire smoke, ash, soot and debris can create health hazards during cleanup.

Before beginning work around your property, gather appropriate supplies, including:

• Work gloves
• N95 or equivalent masks
• Safety glasses or goggles
• Long pants and long-sleeved shirts
• Sturdy footwear
• Garbage bags and containers for debris collection
• Cleaning cloths, mops and disinfectants

When cleaning:

• Lightly mist ash with water before sweeping to reduce dust.
• Avoid using leaf blowers, which can stir ash and fine particles into the air.
• Wash hands thoroughly after handling debris or ash.
• Keep children and pets away from heavily affected areas until cleanup is complete.

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 or text 211
• BC Crisis Line - 310-6789 (no need to dial area code)
• Canadian Red Cross
  • Coping with crisis
  • Specialized crisis lines
• Emergency Support Services

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 did not have to pay a substantial portion of the basic user and consumption fees of utility bills from August 1 through September 30, 2021.

• 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.

• Water Pit Meters were/are being provided to residents that lost their homes, at no cost, through a program, funded by EMBC and the Canadian Red Cross.

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

• In addition, the Board 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.

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 (Get Prepared Canada)

Some residents may remember that during previous wildfire recoveries, refrigerators and 
freezers were often collected for disposal. Current health guidance from Interior Health advises 
that undamaged appliances can typically be cleaned, sanitized and safely returned to service, 
with the focus placed on the safe disposal of spoiled food and thorough cleaning of the 
appliance.

Interior Health recommends discarding any perishable foods that may have been stored above 
4°C, as well as any frozen foods that have completely thawed. Once spoiled food has been 
removed, clean all interior surfaces, shelves, drawers and door seals with hot, soapy water, 
followed by a sanitizing solution, and allow the appliance to air dry before use.

Before occupying your home, take time to assess conditions safely.

Check for:
• Structural damage
• Downed power lines
• Damaged utility connections
• Smouldering materials or hot spots
• Signs of wildlife that may have been displaced by the wildfire

If you see damaged utility infrastructure or encounter any immediate hazard, leave the area and 
contact the appropriate utility provider or emergency services

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 

Insurance tips for wildfire emergency preparedness and recovery

Get to know your terrain and waterways. The best way to prepare is to be aware of changes 
that could signal a landslide. These may include:

• Sudden changes in stream flow.
• Rapid changes or pulses in flow (e.g. changes in volume) or pulses of sediment (e.g. 
  from clear to murky).
• Abnormally dirty water.
• Accumulation of large logs or debris.
• Rapid accumulation of sediment or bed-load along a flat section of a creek channel.
• Tension cracks near the top of the slope.
• Falling rocks or boulders or flowing or sliding soil. This may precede a much larger 
  landslide.

To report landslide or debris flow indicators, call the 24-hour provincial toll-free number at 1-800-
663-3456 or contact your local fire, RCMP or public works department.

Learn more about landslide preparedness at PreparedBC