Category Archives: (Portal – Vernon Matters) Kelowna
Progress made on Central Okanagan fires
Cooler temperatures, higher humidity and calmer winds have helped an “army” of firefighters make progress on the Central Okanagan fires. There are now nearly 500 firefighters from across t...
Aug 20, 2023
B.C. wildfires: no new evacuations overnight as grim battle goes on
British Columbia’s desperate battle against hundreds of wildfires was continuing on multiple fronts Sunday, but no new evacuation orders were added overnight to the thousands already in place ac...
Aug 20, 2023
B.C. orders fire-zone travel bans as evacuations soar
British Columbia imposed bans on travel to wildfire zones on Saturday after evacuee numbers doubled to 30,000 or more, marking another day of dramatic developments in the province’s desperate ba...
Aug 19, 2023
Police presence beefed up in wake of fires
An additional 44 RCMP officers have arrived in Kelowna to help manage security during the unprecedented wildfires happening in the Central Okanagan. “We have launched air resources from the Lowe...
Aug 19, 2023
Do not consume water order for West Kelowna system
The City of West Kelowna has issued a precautionary Do Not Consume Water Order, until further notice, for the entire Rose Valley Water Service Area except for the Sunnyside/Pritchard Water System that...
Aug 19, 2023
Okanagan fires: Unprecedented firefighting tactics save infrastructure
The fire chief of West Kelowna says an “army” of firefighters from across the province has managed to earn a reprieve for the city in the battle against the devastating McDougall Creek wil...
Aug 19, 2023
Roots and Blues Festival shut down after one day, Vernon plaza closed
The North Okanagan is experiencing some of the worst air quality of the summer today due to wildfire smoke, which is impacting scheduled events. After holding one night of music, the Salmon Arm Folk M...
Aug 19, 2023
UPDATE: Highway 1 closed until Monday
UPDATE: 4 p.m. The Trans Canada Highway will remain closed between Chase and Sorrento at least until Monday, Aug. 21 due to the Bush Creek East fire. Drive BC says the next update is scheduled for Mon...
Aug 19, 2023
B.C. declares wildfire emergency amid desperate battle to save West Kelowna
Homes were ablaze on Friday in West Kelowna with firefighters locked in a pitched battle against a rampaging wildfire that helped trigger a province wide state of emergency. British Columbia Premier D...
Aug 18, 2023
Kalamalka Bowl cancelled due to fires
The raging wildfires in the region have resulted in the cancellation of next week’s Kal Tire Kalamalka Bowl between University of B.C. and University of Alberta football squads. Two-thousand peo...
Aug 18, 2023