Top Stories – Aug 27 – Home Lost To Fire

Mayor Gord Milsom has extended heartfelt condolences on behalf of West Kelowna council, to the owners of the home lost in Glenrosa to the Mount Law wildfire. Appreciation was expressed at the council meeting for the community’s outpouring of gratitude for the crews working tirelessly on the wildfires and to all of the regional emergency operations staff and officials.

The Mt. Law wildfire in West Kelowna is now estimated at 930 hectares as spot fires flared up in 2 areas and there was better mapping. Crews and air tankers were making a direct attack on one east of Drought Creek, while helicopters were tasked with helping out elsewhere. Damage to abandoned outbuildings and fencing on properties outside the fire protection area has been noted.

Residents evacuated by the White Rock Lake wildfire could be allowed to return home in the next five to ten days, barring any unforeseen weather events. That’s the estimate from the BC Wildfire Service after 600-hectares of potential fire fuel were consumed on the fire’s southeast flank by aerial ignitions. The fire is estimated at 82-thousand hectares.

A big development in the battle against two of the largest fires in the province not far from Kamloops. BC Wildfire says both the Tremont Creek and Sparks Lake wildfires are ‘being held.’ Sparks ignited in late June and grew to almost 90-thousand hectares, while Tremont hit 63-thousand after starting in mid-July.

The number of new cases of covid 19 continue to climb in BC with 724 reported yesterday, up from 698 on Wednesday. There were 271 in Interior Health. Province-wide, 83.7% of eligible people 12 and older have received their first dose of vaccine and 75.6% have had their second.

Again this weekend there is a walk in vaccination clinic at the Orchard Park mall today through Sunday from 10-530 in the former Le Chateau location. There is a pop-up at Prospera Place tomorrow from 11-3 where you will also be able to buy Rockets’ merch. And the clinic at the Kelowna Yacht club wraps up today from 3-7pm. Ongoing clinics are at Trinity Hall on Sutherland and West Bank Lions Hall.

A group of major Canadian long term care operators will require COVID vaccination for all staff this fall. Chartwell Retirement, Extendicare, Responsive Group, Revera, and Sienna Senior Living issued a joint statement today about the plan. The group says employees who aren’t fully vaccinated as of Oct. 12 will be placed on unpaid leave of absence.

A project examining more than 350-thousand comments sent to candidates on Twitter during the first week of the federal election campaign found more than a quarter of them were considered toxic. The organization behind the study says it found that women seeking election as Liberals faced the most toxicity during the period studied and were over five times more likely than men running as candidates for the same party to get them.

West Kelowna Council denied the issuance of a Development Variance Permit on Highway 97 as part of the revised Goats Peak Winery building. The developer wanted to increase the maximum building height from 15 to 35 metres. Council said that would have required additional costs of $200,000 for high-rise fire protection equipment and training.

Sports

At the Women’s World Hockey Championships in Calgary, Canada broke an 8 game losing streak to the United States with a 5-1 win over the red, white and blue. Canada will play Germany in the quarterfinals at 4pm tomorrow.

After their summer break, Formula 1 begins the first of 3 straight weeks of competition in Europe. Practice is today for the Grand Prix in Belgium with qualifying tomorrow and the race on Sunday.

Just 1 game in the CFL today as Montreal hosts Hamilton at 4:30. The BC Lions play in Ottawa tomorrow at 4.

Going into the second day of the PGA’s BMW Championship, Sam Burns and Jon Rahm are tied for the lead at 8 under. The Canadians did not have a stellar day as Mackenzie Hughes is 5 shots back and Corey Conners is at minus 2.

The Tennessee Titans placed quarterback Ryan Tannehill on the COVID-19 list. That means 7 players and the head coach are going through protocols.