INFORMATION RELEASE                                                                                                         

BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) Information

BC Wildfire – Gillanders Creek (K51680) and  BC Wildfire – Crater Creek (K52125)

Current Information
The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen Emergency Operations Centre (RDOS EOC) is supporting the Incident Command on site. A helicopter flight has been conducted to gather information about the Gillanders Creek and Crater Creek wildfires. BC Wildfire Service and an RDOS EOC representative were on the flight.

The RDOS EOC is in contact with Cathedral Lakes Lodge. The Lodge is working with emergency officials to safely evacuate guests, campers and staff to the Cathedral Lakes Lodge base camp on Ashnola Road.

Video Update
The RDOS is hosting an online information briefing at 2:00 pm, Wednesday, August 16, 2023. The briefing will be broadcast live on the RDOS YouTube channel.

Emergency Reception Centre at Keremeos Victory Hall
An Emergency Reception Centre is open at the Village of Keremeos Victory Hall at 427-7TH Ave., Keremeos located along Highway 3. All residents under Evacuation Order are asked to register at the Reception in person.  Residents under Evacuation Order can call Emergency Support Services (ESS) at 250-486-1890. If you are on an Evacuation ALERT or ORDER, or if you have been displaced from your home due to an emergency, please self-register for ESS. Evacuee Registration & Assistance (ERA): ess.gov.bc.ca

People concerned about evacuees are asked to call the RDOS Emergency Operations Centre at 250-490-4225 and not ESS.

Evacuation Orders And Alerts

The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen Emergency Operations Centre (RDOS EOC) issued an Evacuation ORDER for 13 properties in Electoral Areas “B” and “G”, effective Tuesday, August 15, 2023, at 10:00 pm due to the Gillanders Creek (K51680) and Crater Creek wildfires (K52125). The ORDER covers the area along the Ashnola River and Ewart Creek Rd including the Cathedral Provincial Park, Cathedral Lakes Lodge and the Snowy Protected Area. 

The RDOS EOC is in communication and is coordinating efforts with the Lower Similkameen Indian Band (LSIB).

An Evacuation ALERT was issued for 74 properties along Ashnola Rd, River Rd and Highway 3 near the Red Bridge area west of the Village of Keremeos. For the latest updates on Evacuation Alerts and Orders, please visit emergency.rdos.bc.ca.

What to do when an Evacuation ORDER is issued

Road Checkpoint on Ashnola Rd
Checkpoints have been set up along Ashnola Rd in conjunction with LSIB. Please stay away from the Red Bridge area. Motorists along Highway 3 are asked to drive with caution and not stop in unsafe areas.

Animal Lifeline Emergency Response Team
If you are in an area under an Evacuation Alert, please make arrangements to relocate animals or livestock. Contact ALERT (Animal Lifeline Emergency Response Team) for assistance: 250-809-7152.

VOYENT ALERT! Notifications
Click here to register for routine and emergency notifications via email, text, or telephone. You can also find a link to Voyent Alert! on the RDOS website: www.rdos.bc.ca. For further information, please call the EOC at 250-490-4225. In the case of an emergency, call 9-1-1.

Issued by EOC Director