White Rock Lake Wildfire Community Recovery

Here are links to the information reports, presentations and assessments:

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

This program was created by the RDCO with funding support from the Canadian Red Cross and Emergency Management BC and is now complete.

We recognized the importance of removing debris from impacted properties such as ash, contaminated soil and concrete and hazard trees that may impact public safety and future rebuilding.

Our case workers contacted over 50 residents that were directly impacted by the wildfire for their possible interest in our debris management and/or hazard tree reimbursement program. The Canadian Red Cross reviewed the insurance policies of 21 property owners that indicated they were interested in the program and determined that 15 were eligible for assistance with managing debris or hazard trees.

The RDCO provided its' first debris management reimbursement cheque in late May and by the end of 2022, had issued over $163,556 to eligible property owners to help them deal with the costs associated with removing contaminated soil, concrete and hazard trees resulting from the wildfire.

The local area concrete and large wood debris disposal site that was established in late April along the Sugar Loaf Mountain Forest Service Road certainly helped reduce hauling costs for residents. Over 548 tons of concrete and 178 tons of contaminated soil were deposited. 230 hazard trees were removed through this program.

The site is now closed and is not accepting any further debris loads. It's anticipated that some of the collected materials will be recycled and used locally. The concrete will be crushed and hopefully utilized as a base for a proposed expansion of the North Westside transfer station.

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)

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

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 redcross.ca/2021bcfires for more information.

In November 2021, 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 January 2023, 46 Demolition permit applications have been received and approved and 35 completed. In addition, 36 building permit applications have been received and 34 been issued. Six Development permit applications have been received and approved. Four Temporary recreational vehicle permits applications have been received and approved.

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

The Regional Board waived 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.

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.