Top Stories – August 6 – West Side Fire

BC Wildfire crews hit a new fire hard that started in the Trepanier area yesterday afternoon. They used retardant-dropping aircraft and bucketing helicopters until it got too dark. The Mt. Miller fire, is on the north side of the Connector and about 11 kilometres west of West Kelowna. It’s suspected cause is lightning and was last measured at 2 hectares. No structures were in danger last night and there were no evacuation alerts.

The Okanagan Similkameen Regional District rescinded its evacuation order for the Brenda Creek fire. The size is still estimated at 824 hectares and while it is classified as ‘being held’, Central Okanagan Regional District evac alerts continue. Details at cordemergency.ca .

Highway 97 has been closed between Monte Creek and the Salmon River road until at least tomorrow morning according to Drive BC. This is due to activity from the White Rock Lake fire. Also Killiney Beach Community park is closed so North Westside Fire Rescue has unrestricted access in order to fill fire trucks.

There are now 20 people in hospital for Covid in the area with 10 in Intensive Care. Dr. Bonnie Henry says all those in critical care are unvaccinated. Yesterday there were 234 new cases in Interior Health… more than the rest of BC combined. Dr. Henry says the surge is primarily in those between 20 and 40 years old.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he is considering making COVID vaccinations mandatory for some federally regulated workplaces such as airlines. It is the first time he has openly supported any form of compulsory vaccinations. Trudeau says he fully supports the plan that US President Joe Biden has introduced for federal employees.

12 months ago during the height of the pandemic, the average single family home in the central Okanagan was selling for 693-thousand dollars. The Association of Interior Realtors says last month it was 933-thousand. There were 236 sales… down 30 percent from a year ago, which led to some bidding wars.

Police say one of the men involved in a gang-related shooting in Kelowna last weekend is dead after an incident at a North Okanagan campsite. RCMP have not confirmed it is Kyle Gianis. An independent investigation is underway after a man apparently died of self inflicted wounds while being pursued by police for stabbing two women in a campground near Enderby yesterday morning.

The second round of catch basin mosquito control hits many Central Okanagan neighbourhoods next week. Weather permitting from Sunday through Thursday, crews will be dropping water soluble pouches containing an environmentally approved mosquito larvicide into the roadside catch basins. And yes, despite the weather, we’re told there is water in them.

Short term accommodation operators must now apply for a business licence and follow new regulations in the City of West Kelowna. At the time of application, a one-time fee of $250 is due and the annual licence fee is $500. Fines are up to $1,000 for non-compliance. Details at westkelownacity.ca/shorttermaccommodations .

Sports

The BC Lions play their first football game in about 2 years tonight. They begin the season in Regina with a 6:30 start against the RoughRiders.

In the CFL last night, the season kicked off in Winnipeg with a rematch of the 2019 Grey Cup that the Blue Bombers won. Last night, they won again. This time by a 19-6 score.

The NFL preseason began with the Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio. The Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Dallas Cowboys 16 to 3.

Robert Griffin the Third, is taking his talent to the broadcast booth. The longtime NFL quarterback is headed to ESPN to call college football this season and may also contribute to the network’s NFL coverage.

At the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational Harris English is at 8 under par with a 2 stroke lead on 4 other golfers heading into round 2. Canadian Corey Conners is 5 shots back.

Masai Ujiri agreed to a significant new deal to stay on as vice chairman and president of basketball operations for the Toronto Raptors. The club made the playoffs in seven of his eight seasons at the helm, and won the franchise’s lone championship in 2019.