Evacuation Alert/Order RDKB West Boundary

State of local emergency in Area E/West Boundary with 122 properties ordered to evacuate, 304 on alert due to Nk’Mip Creek wildfire

To see the Order of Evacuation area, click here.

To read the Declaration of Emergency, click here.

View on the RDKB website: https://rdkb.com/newsreleases.aspx

The Regional District of Kootenay Boundary has declared a state of local emergency in Electoral Area E/West Boundary due to the Nk’Mip Creek wildfire’s advance eastward from the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen into the RDKB. The RDKB has also ordered residents at 122 addresses to evacuate their properties immediately and placed a further 304 properties on evacuation alert in advance of a forecast for increased winds.

Properties ordered evacuated are on the north side of Highway 3 between the westerly boundary of RDKB (250 metres west of Sidley Mountain Road) to Mt. Baldy Road at the Canyon Bridge and north to the BC Hydro power lines.

The evacuation alert area extends northward from the BC Hydro power lines to Mt. Baldy Ski Resort; southward from Highway 3 to the Canada-US border; and eastward from Mt. Baldy Road at the Canyon Bridge to Rock Creek below the switchback.

A full list of addresses ordered evacuated along with a map of the evacuation order and alert areas is available at emergency.rdkb.com. Evacuation orders are delivered to each household by emergency personnel. Evacuation alerts are not.

Anyone ordered to evacuate should gather only essential belongings and exit along Highway 3 toward the City of Grand Forks where an evacuation centre is now being set up. All evacuees are asked to register online at ess.gov.bc.ca or in person at the Jack Goddard Memorial Arena at 2020 Central Avenue in Grand Forks.

People who are under mandatory evacuation in British Columbia can also register with the Red Cross by calling 1-800-863-6582, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., PT. Registration with the Red Cross ensures people are accounted for, can be contacted while away from home, and can also be reached with information on further Red Cross services and assistance that may become available to them during this time of need.

“We have issued these orders and alerts because BC Wildfire has informed us of the potential for a change in the prevailing winds that could push the wildfire to burn more in a southeasterly direction into dry fuels,” said Mark Stephens, EOC Director.

Anyone on evacuation alert should prepare for the possibility of an evacuation order by doing the following:

  • Locate those people in your household or family group and designate a meeting place outside the evacuation alert area should an evacuation order be issued while you are separated from one another.
  • Arrange accommodations with family or friends outside the area.
  • Gather essential items: The 5 P’s (People, Pets, Prescriptions, Papers and Photos).
  • Prepare to move any disabled persons and /or children.
  • Move pets and livestock to a safe area outside the area.
  • Monitor news sources for additional information.
  • If an order is issued, residents must leave their homes immediately.

The RDKB asks all residents to register for the RDKB Emergency Alerting System at https://ca.voyent-alert.com/vras/user-registration.html
or through emergency.rdkb.com.

For more information:

The RDKB will continue to update the public as new information is available.