UPDATE: Armstrong lifts evacuation alert
The City of Armstrong is temporarily lifting the evacuation order covering all areas of the city.
The following is a news release from the city issued just after 4:00 p.m. Aug. 7:
CITY OF ARMSTRONG EVACUATION ALERT TEMPORARILY RESCINDED
On advice from BC Wildfire, the Evacuation Alert issued on August 6, 2021 for the City of Armstrong has been temporarily rescinded.
The Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) will remain open at a reduced level.
The City continues to closely monitor the White Rock Lake Wildfire, in conjunction with the ArmstrongSpallumcheen Fire Department, Emergency Management BC, BC Wildfire and neighbouring communities and will advise residents of any changes on the City’s website: https://www.cityofarmstrong.bc.ca/content/emergencymanagement.
The area of the White Rock Lake Wildfire saw recent weather cooperate such as, increased precipitation and humidity coupled with reduced temperatures and relaxed winds on the morning of August 7, 2021 and is expected to remain so for the remainder of the day and into tomorrow, August 8, 2021 prompting the change in removing the Evacuation Alert.
The City of Armstrong encourages residents to remain vigilant, stay connected, and to keep their items packed in the event that the situation evolves.
The wildfire threat in the area and in the Province of BC is still imminent.
It is important to note that the Township of Spallumcheen will remain on evacuation alert. The primary reasoning for Spallumcheen to remain on alert, is due to the size of the municipality and the challenging, remote terrain as well as the number of large agricultural producers located in the Township. The Township will continue to reassess all evacuation alert recommendations.
The City of Armstrong Call Centre will remain open tomorrow from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm for any residents calls, questions and concerns and can be reached by calling 250-5469-3023.
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Armstrong sets up emergency operations centre
Aug 7, 2021 | 2:25 PM
The City of Armstrong has set up an Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) to plan for evacuations in the event that the Evacuation Alert for the city changes to an Evacuation Order.
The city has opened a call centre where people can check on the current status of the event by calling 250-546-3023 during the hours of 7:00 am to 3:00 p.m. daily.
The city, on the advice of BC Wildfire, issued an Evacuation Alert for the residents, businesses and visitors on Friday evening, as did its neighbouring community, the Township of Spallumcheen, as a precaution due to rapidly changing conditions at the White Rock Lake wildfire.
The city encourages residents to prepare to leave their homes in the event that the Evacuation Alert is upgraded to an Evacuation Order, by doing the following:
• Remain CALM
• Pack a “Grab & Go” bag for each member of the household o Including, but not limited to:
Clothes, toiletries, including extra prescrioption glasses/contacts, phone/laptop/chargers, important paperwork (passports, birth certificates, home insurance etc), medications/first aid kit, pets, carriers/toys, food, leash/collar/dog tags.
• Consider where you can go in the event the Evacuation Alert moves to an Evacuation Order, such as out of town family or friends and reach out to them
• Take pictures and/or video of your house and belongings for Insurance pursposes
• Gather contact information for those that you may need to contact in the event of an order o BC Social Services https://www.emergencyinfobc.gov.bc.ca/
The Emergency Operations Centre will be providing updates as the situation progresses and will post all information to the city website.