Top Stories – Aug 17 – Fire Holds @ 800 Ha.

The Mt. Law wildfire in West Kelowna saw no significant growth yesterday and remains at an estimated 800 hectares. It was attacked by ground crews, skimmers, retardant tankers and bucketing helicopters. We were told a small number of structures had been affected by the fire but no further details were revealed as property owners were being notified. Updates are posted at cordemergency.ca . And don’t expect many, if any parks to be open in the evacuation or alert zones in West Kelowna.  There are still 461 properties on evacuation order and just over 1,900 on alert.  Officials are making it easier to connect for services. People do not have to show up in person to register with Emergency Support Services. Call: 1-833-498-3007. That is a new evacuee call centre that has been set up. CordEmergency also wants evacuees to know that accommodation is available by calling that number or registering in person at 1480 Sutherland in Kelowna. Registration can also be done online at ess.gov.bc.ca .

Because of the Mt. Law fire, Interior Health has moved some long term care residents from the west side. Brookhaven is being relocated to health authorities on the Lower Mainland. And the Village at Smith Creek and Lakeview Lodge long-term care homes are being relocated primarily to local sites, with some exceptions to health authorities on the Lower Mainland.

Between 50 and 60 structures in the Killiney and Ewings Landing areas of Westside Road sustained significant damage Monday night. High winds and warm temperatures increased action on the White Rock Lake fire. Ten people had to be rescued from the those areas Sunday night, putting firefighters in danger, because they had refused to evacuate.

Today until next Tuesday, the K.L.O. Bridge at Mission Creek will be single-lane alternating traffic due to maintenance between 9am and 3:30pm. Pedestrians are asked to use designated detour routes. Traffic signage and safety personnel will be in place.

The BC Centre for Disease Control reports there were 734 new cases of covid 19 in the Interior Health Region alone between Friday and yesterday. There are now almost 3,000 active cases with 40 people in hospital and 19 in critical care.

On the 1st full day of the federal election campaign, the parties began to lay out their plans for reviving the economy. Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole’s platform aims to create jobs, but also unwinds the Trudeau government’s child-care system. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is promising to pry money out of the pockets of CEOs who saw their compensation rise even as their companies received federal business aid.

The U.S. government has opened a formal investigation into Tesla’s Autopilot partially automated driving system after a series of collisions with parked emergency vehicles. There have been 11 crashes since 2018 where Teslas on Autopilot or Traffic Aware Cruise Control have hit vehicles with flashing lights, flares, an illuminated arrow board or cones warning of hazards.

Sports

The BC Hockey League has announced its preseason schedule and the West Kelowna Warriors first face off on September 24 against Salmon Arm at Royal LePage Place. They’ll move to the North Okanagan the next night.

The Kootenay International Junior Hockey League will require all its players, bench staff, and on-ice officials to be fully vaccinated with two doses of COVID-19 vaccine prior to the start of the regular season. The Kelowna Chiefs are part of the league.

All WHL players, hockey operations staff and other team and WHL Office personnel along with officials must be fully vaccinated at least 14 days prior to the start of the Regular Season. Same goes for others like General Managers, Coaches, Trainers, Equipment Managers and Off-ice Officials like penalty box attendants, timekeepers and scorekeepers.

The Vancouver Whitecaps report 3 members of its male academy program were assaulted at an outdoor gathering Saturday evening in Burnaby. One of the players is in hospital undergoing surgery following the assault, which the team says was racially motivated.

Pascal Siakam wishes to remain a member of the Toronto Raptors. The Sacramento Kings, Golden State Warriors, and Los Angeles Clippers have all shown interest in Siakam, but reports say the Raptors aren’t shopping him around.

And a rare 1909-11 T-206 Honus Wagner baseball card sold to an anonymous buyer for $6.606 million yesterday, shattering the all-time record for the highest-selling sports card. the previous record of $5.2 million was shared by a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card and an autographed 2003-2004 Exquisite Collection LeBron James rookie jersey card.