Date: Tuesday September 2, 2003
Time: 1:00 p.m.
PUBLIC INFO LINE: 869-0386
PRC RECEPTION CENTRE: 762-8646
RED CROSS INFO LINE RE EVACUEES: 1-888-350-6070
PROVINCIAL INFO LINE: 1-800-311-7044
BC FOREST SERVICE FIRE INFORMATION: 1 888 336-7378
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DAY RE-ENTRY FOR JUNE SPRINGS
RESIDENTS
Residents who live outside the City’s eastern boundary at the south end of June
Springs Road will be permitted to return to return to their homes today until 6
p.m. Proof of residency will be required at the RCMP road checks. The
approximate 70 residents of this area remain on Evacuation Order due to the
threat of the Okanagan Mountain Park forest fire. Emergency Social Services will
re-new referrals for these evacuees until September 5th, but they must
re-register at the Parkinson Recreation Centre before 4:00 p.m. today.
PUBLIC ASKED TO STAY AWAY FROM FIRE-IMPACTED AREAS
Firefighters continue to work extinguishing fires and hot spots. To do so, they
require easy access to all roads in fire-impacted areas. The Kelowna Fire
Department, RCMP, Armed Forces and BC Forest Service fire fighters request that
the public stay away to facilitate fire fighting efforts. Everyone is reminded
that penalties up to $5,000 and/or six months imprisonment may be imposed for
interfering with fire control or suppression operations.
Areas of greatest concern are Chute Lake Road, June Springs Road and South
Lakeshore Road. The RCMP will set setting up road blocks and redirecting traffic
in these areas.
The public is also reminded to stay out of fire-impacted Crown land and open
space private property. Joggers, bikers, hikers and walkers should not be in
these areas at any time. Danger trees pose a significant threat to public
safety. These trees may look fine but their root structures and trunks could be
burned through rendering them extremely unstable and susceptible to falling at a
moment’s notice.