Photo: City of West Kelowna
A plan has been uncovered to safely evacuate people from the Casa Loma neighborhood in an emergency.
It will be presented to the West Kelowna City Council on Tuesday.
The emergency plan does not include plans for widespread second access and exit to the community, but instead works with what is currently available.
West Kelowna Fire Chief Jason Broland says the second car access is something the city is looking at closely, but that’s separate from the work presented here.
“The work we did as part of the latest evacuation planning exercise was to look at the current situation, where we are today and how we would deal with any kind of emergency evacuation today when there is no second way out,” Brolund said.
He says several “operational maps” created as part of the exercise show all currently available evacuation options, including how to direct vehicle traffic north or south after reaching Highway 97, water evacuation on Lake Okanagan or on foot through the neighborhood trails and paths and through Kalamoar Park.
They also show risks in the neighborhood, such as where fuel is stored and helicopter landings, if necessary.
“We also did a lot of work with the neighborhood to talk about when to leave and when to stay – the meaning of the evacuation signal, not the evacuation order,” he said.
“This is important for the work in our whole region. When people are asked to leave, it is important that they leave, but when they are ready, it means to prepare, but do not leave, because it is possible to organize an evacuation in stages and we are not yet ready to be on the road. “
Brolund says the plan also outlines the important role people play in minimizing risk by removing hazardous fire materials from their homes and, if the time comes, has a ready-made set-up kit and a plan with his family to know everyone. outputs.
“In the case of Casa Loma,” says Brolund, “if it can mean walking and knowing how and where to go.”
He says the plan shows paths through neighborhoods and between different streets.
Brolun says he is pleased with the response they have received from the Casa Loma neighborhood in terms of both interest and participation.
As part of the plan, several recommendations were provided, including the installation of a neighborhood warning sire, the establishment of an ESS reception center on the western side of the lake, ensuring the functionality of all fire hydrants and accessibility before the fire season and the possibility to upgrade the trail for access on foot or UTV.
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