Photo: Contributed
UPDATE 9:45 p.m.
The City of West Kelowna now says the Boil Water Notice applies to the Shannon Lake neighbourhood and a portion of the West Kelowna Business Park, south of Bartley Road and west of Highway 97.
ORIGINAL 8 p.m.
A water main break has prompted the City of West Kelowna, in consultation with Interior Health, to issue a Boil Water Notice for the Shannon Lake neighbourhood and the West Kelowna Business park within the Lakeview-Rose Valley Water Service Area.
Crews are on site working to repair the water main break in the vicinity of Golf Course Drive.
Under the precautionary Boil Water Notice, affected residents should find another source of water for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth, food prep, ice making and the preparation of baby formula, or use tap water that has been brought to a rolling boil for one minute or more.
There is a bulk filling station at Shannon Lake and Asquith Roads from the Powers Creek Water Filtration Plant. Customers can use it for free during the Boil Water Notice.
In keeping with COVID-19 guidelines, the tap is touch-free and users should sanitize their hands before and after using the facility and maintain a safe distance of two metres from others. The tap is located on the Asquith Road side of the filling station.
Rob Gibson – Sep 1, 2021 / 8:50 am | Story: 344476
Photo: Photo: Nicole Hemeon Photography
The Mt. Law wildfire remains at 976 hectares after cooler temperatures and rain helped firefighters get the upper hand over the past 24 hours.
The wildfire remains classified as out of control, but good progress continues to be made by crews working directly on the fire’s edge with suppression activities. Crews are now working to douse the few remaining spots of active fire and mop up continuing inwards from the fire perimeter.
One to two millimetres of rain fell on the fire Tuesday, and conditions on Wednesday are expected to remain cool with light winds and mainly cloudy. This slight downturn in weather will continue to help crews make additional progress on the containment of the Mt Law wildfire.
A lane closure is in place on Highway 97C near the fire.
The BCWS also indicates that an area restriction is in effect for this fire and hunting is no permitted within the area indicated in the attached map. This restriction is to provide for the safety and security of firefighters.
The final evacuation order related to the Mount Law wildfire in West Kelowna has now been lifted, but many properties remain on alert.
There are 72 ground personnel working on the fire, including four pieces of heavy equipment and nine helicopters.
Rob Gibson – Sep 1, 2021 / 8:34 am | Story: 344475
Photo: RCMP
West Kelowna RCMP tell Castanet that 34-year-old Julianne Veltikold, of Calgary, has been located safe and sound after being reported missing on August 27, 2021 in West Kelowna.
“West Kelowna RCMP would like to thank those that assisted with the investigation,” says RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Jocelyn Noseworthy.
Rob Gibson
Fire erupted at the loading bays of the West Kelowna Walmart store overnight.
West Kelowna Fire Rescue responded to the scene on Louie Drive about 2 a.m. and found a tractor trailer engulfed in flames.
The fire is suspicious in nature.
Crews were able extinguish the fire quickly, keeping the fire damage to the trailer and the exterior of the building, says assistant fire chief Lionel Bateman.
There was a significant amount of smoke in the interior of the building.
Firefighters ventilated the structure, and RCMP and fire investigators will be on scene throughout the morning.
WKFR responded with three engines, a ladder truck, two investigators and a command unit along with 20 firefighters.
RCMP, BC Hydro, Fortis Gas and Westbank First Nation bylaw staff assisted at the scene.
Photo: Sandra Williams
Rob Gibson – Aug 31, 2021 / 11:31 am | Story: 344361
Photo: Nicole Hemeon Photography
The Mount Law wildfire burning near Highway 97C
UPDATE 11:31 a.m.
Good progress continues to be made on the Mt. Law wildfire.
Conditions on Tuesday are expected to be cooler with increasing cloud and a chance of showers.
“This slight downturn in weather will help crews make additional progress on the containment of the Mt. Law wildfire,” says Roslyn Johnson, BC Wildfire Services spokesperson.
Johnson says crews will continue to mop up inwards from the fire perimeter on the north and west side of the fire. On the east side of the fire, crews continue to work directly on the fire’s edge with suppression activities, referred to as “direct attack.”
ORIGINAL 6:53 a.m.
The Mount Law wildfire continues to burn out of control a couple of kilometres outside of West Kelowna and now stands at 976 hectares in size.
Fire crews continue to make progress on the Mt. Law wildfire as mop up continues inwards from the fire perimeter on the north and west side of the fire. On the east side of the fire, crews continued to work directly on the fires edge with suppression activities, this is referred to as “direct attack.” A successful small planned ignition that was conducted near Drought creek, on the east side of the fire, on Aug 29 will help reinforce the guard on the east side of the fire.
An area restriction remains in effect in the vicinity of the Mt. Law wildfire and reflects the continued need to protect the public in areas where there are ongoing fire suppression activities.
A travel advisory is in place between the Hwy 97 junction and MacKinnon Rd for two kilometres. Motorists are being asked to avoid stopping to take photos on the highway.
The final evacuation order related to the Mount Law wildfire in West Kelowna has now been lifted, but many properties remain on alert.
There are 62 ground personnel working on the fire, including seven pieces of heavy equipment and seven helicopters are working on the fire.
Rob Gibson – Aug 31, 2021 / 7:32 am | Story: 344362
Photo: RCMP
West Kelowna RCMP needs your help to locate a missing woman.
Julianne Veltikold, of Calgary, was last seen on August 27, 2021 in West Kelowna. Since Julianne’s disappearance, police have followed up on several leads and possible sightings however, Julianne remains missing.
Description of Julianne Veltikold:
- 36 years old
- 5 ft 1 in (155 cm)
- slender build
- Long brown/blonde hair
- Brown eyes
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Julianne is urged to contact their local police, or Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Photo: Castanet file photo
A West Kelowna firefighter douses a blaze at a home on Preston Road in Upper Glenrosa on April 5, 2012
An insurance company has been let off the hook in relation to a 2012 fire at a property in West Kelowna that was previously used for a cannabis grow operation.
The home at 3237A Preston Road in Upper Glenrosa was destroyed by fire on April 5, 2012. The blaze, which was caused by an arsonist who was never caught, took place about three weeks after RCMP raided the home and found an illegal grow-operation.
The grow-op was hidden in a bunker underneath a patio next to the home and consisted of several hundred plants. The electrical supply to the property had been tampered with, leading the municipality of West Kelowna to slap a “do not occupy” notice on the home after the search warrant was executed.
At the time of the fire the home was occupied by a longtime tenant, who was charged for the grow-op. The tenant had been a family friend of property owner Marjorie Drechsler, who had owned the 18-acre property for 18 years at the time of the fire.
After the fire, Canadian Northern Shield Insurance refused to pay Drechsler for her losses, prompting her to file a lawsuit.
The insurance company argued that Drechsler broke her policy when she failed to inform them of a “material change in risk” to the insured property after the grow-op was discovered and the home’s electrical connections had been tampered with.
Drechsler had zero knowledge of the grow-operation, bunker or that the home’s electrical system had been tampered with prior to being served the “do not occupy” notice by the District of West Kelowna on March 23, 2012.
The insurance company argued at trial that it would have cancelled the insurance policy with five days notice had it been informed of the situation, as required by contract.
Drechsler visited the property on March 24 or 25, 2012, after receiving the letter, although she was unable to access the home because of police tape.
In a BC Supreme Court judgement last week, Justice Steven Wilson ruled that Drechsler should have notified her insurer within at least two days of visiting the property after receiving the letter.
“Here, the plaintiff took no action to resolve the change in risk to the property upon receipt of the [District of West Kelowna] letter, except for visiting the property and speaking with the tenant. Neither step was successful in rectifying the risk,” Justice Wilson ruled.
“This is notable considering that the [District of West Kelowna] letter outlined several steps that the plaintiff was required to take in order to regain access to her property and to ameliorate the risk.”
“The plaintiff is not entitled to relief from the consequences of her breach,” the judgement concluded.
Rob Gibson – Aug 30, 2021 / 5:46 pm | Story: 344329
Photo: Contributed
Cod Gone Wild
As September rolls around, West Kelowna’s Music in the Park is ending the season with a crowd favourite.
Cod Gone Wild will take the stage Friday, Sept. 3 for two, free, limited-seating shows for fans at 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at Kinsmen Park at 3170 Shannon Lake Road, West Kelowna.
The band is best known for blending classical, folk, rock and jazz music.
“The band’s perfected performances and tight harmonies weave a tapestry of tales and evoke nostalgia that wow the crowd and keep fans coming back year after year,” says Jason Luciw, spokesperson for the city of West Kelowna.
Music in the Park started in July and featured six free concerts in total this year.
Rob Gibson – Aug 30, 2021 / 12:48 pm | Story: 344268
Photo: BCWS
UPDATE 12:50 p.m.
The final evacuation order related to the Mount Law wildfire in West Kelowna has now been lifted.
Central Okanagan Emergency Operations announced Monday that the order for the property at 3250 Highway 97 has been downgraded to an evacuation alert.
“While smoke continues to be visible, this is not a threat for residents returning to their community” said Jason Brolund, Fire Chief of West Kelowna Fire Rescue. “Smoke plumes are from the perimeter of the fire and those lines are not being challenged.”
A small planned ignition was successfully conducted near Drought Creek yesterday, to help reinforce the guard on the east side of the fire. Last night, crews responded to a small hot spot, which surfaced due to the increased heat from the day, which Peachland Fire and Rescue crews quickly mopped up.
While there are no remaining evacuation orders, the neighbourhoods surrounding the fire remain on alert and should be prepared to leave on a moment’s notice.
An area restriction order remains in place in the vicinity of the wildfire. The order restricts access to public land, including for recreation activity such as hiking, bike, or ATV riding, but does not apply to private/residential properties.
UPDATE 10:00 a.m.
The BC Wildfire Service says they continue to make good progress on the Mt. Law wildfire.
“Mop up will continue inwards from the fire perimeter on the north and west side of the fire. On the east side of the fire crews continued to work directly on the fires edge with suppression activities, this is referred to as ‘direct attack,'” said BCWS online.
A successful small planned ignition was conducted near Drought Creek, on the east side of the fire, Sunday which will help reinforce the guard on the east side of the fire.
A small spot fire occurred late last night across Highway 97C which was handled by the local fire department.
ORIGINAL 7:15 a.m.
The Mount Law wildfire continues to burn out of control a couple of kilometres outside of West Kelowna. The wildfire is now 976.0 hectares in size.
Fire crews continue to deal with spot fires popping up across Highway 97C, on the south side of the fire. The local Fire Department is also working to contain the spot fires.
Fire officials indicate making good progress on the wildfire over the last couple days. On the southwest corner crews will be working to establish a black line, burned area that will act as a fireguard, as well as continue to patrol along the south side of the fire near Hwy 97C. On the north and east side of the fire crews will continue to work directly on the fires edge and mop up the area.
Skimmer aircraft planning on conducting a water drop on the Mt Law wildfire were rerouted to respond to the Skaha Creek wildfire over the weekend.
A travel advisory in effect between Junction Hwy 97 and MacKinnon Rd for 2.0 km, West Kelowna to Peachland. One westbound lane on the connector 97C will remain closed to traffic for the safety of crews and motorists. “We continue to ask that motorists do not stop on the highway to take photos or slow down to take photos as this poses a traffic hazard. Please follow directions of highway and emergency workers and drive to the conditions.”
The Evacuation Alert and Order issued by the Regional District of Central Okanagan remain in place for the area in the vicinity of the Mt. Law wildfire. A small area of the order on the southwest corner was rescinded and replaced with an Alert on August 28th. For more information, contact the Regional District of Central Okanagan.
There are 82 ground personnel working on the fire, including 4 Pieces of heavy equipment, and four Helicopters are working on the Okanagan complex fire.
Photo: Contributed
A Kelowna resident came across a large rattlesnake on Sunday while mountain biking in Rose Valley.
Russ Pontin says he was going up Grants Grind when he heard a rattling sound nearby.
“I heard this rattle as I went past, and I didn’t know if it was a locust thing. I heard it rattle again so I turned around and saw the rattlesnake about two feet away from me.”
“I have seen them there before, but I was struck to see it so close to the path,” Pontin added.
Rattlesnakes in the Okanagan give birth to their young in the early fall, and may be closely tied to their dens this time of year.
More West Kelowna News
