News Release No. 66            

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.