Fire Watch Archive |
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Click on a date below or scroll down.
COF
Reports $350,000 in Contributions
(March 8 - 3:35 pm) COF volunteers and staff spent approximately 350 hours during the past few months receiving and dispersing the monies that accumulated into two funds: the COF's Fire Relief Fund that received contributions from across the country, and the local media's Yellow Ribbon Campaign that collected from thousands of BC residents and visitors. Media members later requested the COF manage distribution of campaign funds. The COF's wrap-up report to the community details how $271,923 has been distributed to eligible individuals identified either through the Unmet Needs Committee or through the Kelowna and Area Okanagan Fire Recovery Society. With representation from the COF, the City of Kelowna and others such as the Red Cross and the Salvation Army, the Unmet Needs Committee met weekly to discuss and distribute funds to individuals with urgent needs. "The COF also worked closely with Kelowna Fire Recovery Society to develop a process, a formula and an application form. The relationship with the City was critical to the smooth functioning of this group, and their assistance was invaluable," explains Janice Henry, COF Executive Director. Six registered charities were also allocated $94,000 through a special COF grant cycle early this winter. Each of these groups incurred significant expenses or losses due to the forest fire storm; they are the BC-SPCA, the Myra Canyon Trestle Restoration Society, Friends of the South Slopes, the Kelowna Community Food Bank Society, Scouts Canada (Camp Dunlop rehabilitation), and the City of Kelowna for the Quilchena Playground at Kettle Valley. These grants reflect most of the COF's Fire Relief Fund of $88,000 plus a portion of the Yellow Ribbon funds. In total, donations to the Yellow Ribbon campaign to date amount to $313, 813, with some donations still trickling in, and to the COF Fire Relief Fund, a total of $88,817. The approximately $36,000 that has yet to be allocated will likely be given out during one of the COF's two regular granting cycles this year. Application deadline for the next grant cycle is March 15. "We are confident it will happen over the next few months, especially as some new consequences of the fire may crop up this spring," explains Henry. She also noted that there is "talk of a commemorative project that may require some funding." Both the Yellow Ribbon and the Fire Relief funds held by the COF are flow-through funds, meaning that the monies are not endowed but used directly in the local community. Administration costs were not charged for management of these funds. Fire Money
Decisions (March
8 -
6:40 am)
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Zimmermann
Wants Answers (February 29 -
7:16 am) Filmon
Report Released
(February 27 - 10:15 am)
Filmon
Report Out Today
(February 27 - 8:12 am)
Okanagan
Mountain Fire 2003 Exhibit
(February 25)
South
Slopes Logging
(February 25)
Open House
for Mission Residents: Drainage Project
(February 23)
The fire ravaged the southern boundaries of
Kelowna and over 26,000 hectares of land south and east of the city in August
and September of 2003. Approximately 16,000 of those hectares are within
watersheds that ultimately drain through the city. The extreme rainfall event
and subsequent flooding of October 22, 2003 reinforced that significant changes
to the hydrology of the watersheds have occurred. Large
Grinder Now at Work to Dispose of Fire-Impacted Wood
(February 18)
The grinder is being used to dispose of woody debris from residential lots of one hectare (2.5 acres) or less impacted by the Okanagan Mountain Park fire. Burned logs, branches and stumps will be ground into wood chips at Arthon Construction’s Crawford Quarry, and then trucked to Riverside Forest Products where the product will be used for power generation in Riverside’s Cogeneration Plant. Approximately 1,500 cubic metres of woody debris now stockpiled at the site should be ground by Sunday February 22nd. Residents of these fire-impacted properties may drop off woody debris until Monday March 15th, at which time the grinding company will make one final visit to the drop site. Sun Oka Valley Transport will resume hauling the ground material next week, at a rate of approximately three large truckloads per week. The City of Kelowna entered into a contract with Natural Resource Recovery Group in the fall to grind the burned or felled trees. Work began in November with a smaller grinder and continued through mid-December; approximately 3,000 cubic metres of woody debris were processed during that time. The City organized the wood collection and disposal program to assist owners of fire-affected properties in their clean up efforts in a cost efficient manner. Trench burning of the woody debris resulting from the Okanagan Mountain Park fire was initially considered, but grinding of the debris is a more environmentally friendly option. Burning will only be carried out on any material unsuitable for power production.
Fire Report Ready (February
14 - 7:14 am)
Regional Parks Fuel Modification
Crews At Work (February
3 - 9:06 am)
More Fire Money (February
2 - 7:08 pm)
Brent Road Pays For Fires
(February
2 - 7:08 pm)
We Like Snow
(February
1 - 12:33 pm)
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New Link: Check out CORD EOC Communications Web site. Link. (February 6 - 3:51 pm) |
Trestle
Report Ready
(January 22 - 2:11pm)
Last
Chance to Apply for Funds
(January 21 - 3:08pm) Call the Fire Recovery Centre at 868-2632 to schedule an appointment. You’ll need to complete a Client Needs Assessment Form. Appointments will be accepted until 4:00 p.m. on Friday January 30th. Again please call 868-2632 to schedule an appointment.
Across
the Lake: The Fire From Our Eyes
(January 17 - 3:15 pm)
Silver Star Park to Have Fuel Reduction
(January 14 - 7:23 pm)
Central Okanagan Foundation Grants
Rebuilding Funds
(January 13 - 11:29 am) The majority of funds came from the Central Okanagan Fire Relief Fund, monies that were contributed to the COF from caring and concerned people throughout Canada. "We saw such an outpouring of concern, much of it from Foundation friends outside our community, and they were looking for a fund that would deliver to the neediest constituents. We put together this special flow-through fund to accomplish that goal," explains Janice Henry, COF Executive Director. This means that none of the monies are endowed and are "flowing through" the COF directly into the community. The grant total was enhanced with a contribution from CIBC Wood Gundy. The Food Bank Society and the SPCA participated fully in the forest fire rescue and relief efforts. Myra Canyon Trestles and Quilchena Playground were damaged by the forest fire and need to be resurrected. Friends of the South Slopes Society will rebuild recreational trails in the Myra-Bellevue Provincial Park and the Okanagan Mountain Provincial Park. At Camp Dunlop, Scouts Canada needs to address a severely fire-ravaged area with reforestation and replacement of campsites, the rope course, and two bridges. The COF hosts two grant cycles during a normal year, as well as one from COFFY, the youth branch. The forest fires this year created the extraordinary need for this additional Fire Relief grant cycle plus disbursion of Yellow Ribbon Campaign funds, performed by the COF on behalf of the local media, which collected these fire emergency funds. The deadline for the next regular grant cycles of the COF and COFFY is March 15. The COF invested a principal pool of approximately $6.5 million in the last funding year, returning the interest to the community.
Fire
Exhibition Contribution
(January 13 - 11:29 am) |
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More Park Fire Money
(December 31 - 6:51 am)
OK
Fire Exhibit In The Works
(December
24 - 8:54 am)
Park Will Be Rebuilt
(December
18 - 7:07 am)
"Time for Unity" Released
(December 17 - 7:44 am) Since the book raises money for charity, they are hard to find as outlets demand a commission for carrying them. The three local Save on Foods stores have graciously agreed to carry them commission free. They are also available at Tiger Marketing located at 5-715 Evans Court which is near Dockside Marine off Highway 97. Call 250-491-0529. They can be ordered online at http://www.okanaganmountainfire.com/
Fire Book Release Thursday
(December 10 - 6:44 am)
Underground Fires Burning
(December
7 - 8:57 am)
Another Bad Fire Season Coming
(December 5 - 6:54 am)
Live Christmas Trees Help Fire Impacted Areas
(December 4 - 8:45 am) Living trees, potted or balled/burlapped, will be collected in the Mission District Park parking lot off Lexington Drive. A sign will be posted indicating the drop-off area. Trees will be stored between December 27lh and January 15th. Parks staff will then coordinate their distribution to property owners in the fire impacted areas. Anyone wishing to purchase a live tree should note these trees need to be handled carefully, otherwise their survival rate is poor Please follow these guidelines:
After Christmas the tree should be moved to a cool but sheltered location (such as a garage) for a few weeks to allow it to gradually acclimatize to cool temperatures again. Water as needed.
Burnt Timber Means Economic Benefits for First Nations
(December 2 - 11:26 am) "We're committed to actively pursuing new uses of fire-damaged timber as evidenced by recent letter of intent the Premier signed with Chinese Academy of Forestry," said de Jong. "About 30 per cent of the wood burned in this summer's fires is of merchantable quality for high-grade construction products. " "Last month, the province signed an agreement with the Shuswap Nation Tribal Council and Little Shuswap Indian Band to salvage over one million cubic metres of burnt timber in the Kamloops area. Today's agreement for some timber in the Okanagan is part of our ongoing effort to create jobs and economic opportunities for the regions affected by the fires. With agreements like this we're also meeting our commitment to increase the participation of First Nations in the forest sector." Under the agreement, the Westbank First Nation will be invited to apply for a non-replaceable forest licence for 100,000 cubic metres of timber damaged in this summer's wildfires in the Okanagan timber supply area. "Access to wood is critical for First Nations in British Columbia. The fire-damaged timber from the Okanagan Mountain Park fire is fully within the Okanagan traditional territory and is part of the Westbank First Nation's claim to resources," said Chief Robert Louie, Westbank First Nation. "The economic benefits from the timber extraction will flow through to not only Westbank First Nation, but to the non-native forestry sector as well." As part of the agreement, the Westbank First Nation agrees to an expedited consultation process for harvesting by other licensees. Fire-damaged timber in the Okanagan timber supply area will also awarded to existing licensees as part of their current allocations, and competitively to small business and major licensees. "The Westbank First Nation played a vital role in helping to fight this summer's forest fires - volunteering their land to house forest fire fighters," said Rick Thorpe, MLA for Okanagan-Westside. "It's only fitting that fire-damaged timber will be used locally and provide local economic benefits." The Westbank First Nation consists of 609 members who live mainly on the west shore of Okanagan Lake across from Kelowna. Overall, as part of the ministry's First Nations Forest Strategy, the Minister of Forests has direct awarded more than 4.3 million cubic metres of timber to 16 First Nations since September 2002.
Fire Funding Initiatives
(December 2 - 7:04 am)
Fire Concerts Raise Quarter
Million
(December 2 - 7:04 am) |
81 of the 238 homes destroyed by the fire are currently being rebuilt. A further 88 building permits have been issued. A number of the homes will be completed next month and ready for occupancy. (December 18 - 9:05 am) At 10 am today at the Okanagan Mountain Fire Recovery Centre, an announcement concerning the Kettle Valley play structure lost in the fire will be made. (December 17 - 7:30 am) The KVR Fundraising Calendars are going quickly. Over 1,000 calendars have been sold in the first week. At this rate we will be sold out by Christmas. Link. (December 10 - 2:05 pm) The Okanagan Freelance Writers Association has taken on a fire related project called "Touch the Flame" – a sort of "Chicken Soup for the Fire Survivor's Soul". They are asking people in the community to contribute their stories of the fire, thoughts, reflections etc., and their group will edit as needed and publish (if all goes as planned) sometime in the spring. They have extended their deadline for submissions to March 31st. (December 10 - 6:44 am) An audio archive of our live audio coverage of the Provincial Firestorm Public Hearings in Kelowna is now available. Fire Storm Hearing Audio Archive: 1. City of Kelowna and CORD presentation Nov 26th including Mayor Walter Gray, CORD's Robert Hobson and Fire Chief Zimmerman. (MP3, 33 MB) 2. Full audio archive of Nov 26th presentations. (MP3, 132 MB) 3 Full audio archive of Nov 27th presentations. (MP3, 140 MB) We have reduce the size of the downloads and improved the audio quality since its initial release. Castanet Audio page link. (December 7 - 12:07 pm) City Council has authorized staff to assess and remove dead and dangerous trees on City right-of-ways resulting from the Okanagan Mountain Park fire. Trees that offer merchantable timber will be salvaged wherever possible. The project is expected to cost $80,000. (December 4 - 2:02 pm) Roughly $400,000 remains in local fire relief funds for individual needs. In order to be considered for assistance, individuals must fill out a Client Needs Assessment Form at the Fire Recovery Centre, 520 Bernard Avenue. Applicants are asked to call the Recovery Centre Office at 868-2632 first to arrange an interview. (December 2 - 5:58 pm) MediaButton.com is releasing a Fire DVD "As the Fire Raged". This is new version of the video seen here. All net proceeds will go to Okanagan Charities. Link. (December 2 - 10:14 am) "The Okanagan Mountain Park, a Time of Unity" book will be released December 11th. It's the only book where net proceeds got to charity. Link. (December 2 - 7:08 am) A KVR Fundraising Calendar has been released. Net proceeds go to trestle rebuilding. Link. (December 2 - 7:04 am) An audio archive of our live audio coverage of the Provincial Firestorm Public Hearings in Kelowna is now available. Link. (November 28 - 7:55 am) Forestry officials say whether the fire is completely out or not is not known as the fire can continue to burn underground. If it is still burning it poses no threat. (November 25 - 7:55 am)
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Okanagan Freelance Writers Association Calls for Submission to "Touch the Flame" (November 28 - 1:26 pm) The Okanagan Freelance Writers Association has taken on a fire related project called "Touch the Flame" – a sort of "Chicken Soup for the Fire Survivor's Soul". They are asking people in the community to contribute their stories of the fire, thoughts, reflections etc., and their group will edit as needed and publish (if all goes as planned) sometime in the spring.
Just as Castanet brought together a wealth of on-the-spot photos, the Okanagan Freelance Writers Association would like to give people the opportunity to tell their stories - and so many stories are yet to be told.
Everyone working on "Touch the Flame" is a professional writer volunteering his or her time. All of the proceeds from the sale of the book will go to a BC disaster relief fund.
Click here for full press release, poster, and writing guidelines
Christmas Ornament Drive For
Fire Victims
(November 28 - 1:26 pm)
Zimmerman Speaks Out
(November 26 - 7:38 am) But Zimmerman will have some negative things to say too. His biggest beef is with the Fire Commissioner's office and how it handled itself during the fire. For instance, Zimmerman says he had no idea that the Fire Commissioner's office had taken over command of the fire without his knowledge. Under a State of Emergency, the province has the power to set up a province fire department which has jurisdiction over all fire departments. According to Zimmerman, the provincial government decided to enact that policy without his knowledge. He says that caught him a little off guard. "We had never discussed that before and when it was created there was nothing written down on how it would operate. So basically, we didn't have a clue on how this thing was going to run, where our boundaries were and who was in charge -- we didn't know those things," says Zimmerman who adds that things got a little testy between his department and the Fire Commissioner's office. At one point Zimmerman was told by the Fire Commissioner's office that he could be replaced if he didn't cooperate. "We had a conflict on one part of the operation. We had a plan to fight the fire in a certain area and the Fire Commissioner came to us and said 'no this is what we're doing' and at that point I said that doesn't make any sense to me and that's when the Commissioner made the statement that our boundaries do not exist and that I could be replaced." Zimmerman will be addressing the panel at 3:45 this afternoon at the Grand. Kelowna Mayor Walter Gray will also be making a presentation. Castanet will be providing live audio coverage of the hearings.
Tobacco Makes Fire Contribution
(November 26 - 7:38 am)
Fire Review Here This Week
(November 24 - 2:35 pm) Castanet will be providing live audio coverage of the Firestorm Public Hearings 1 pm to 9 pm Wednesday and Thursday. Check out our new audio page to make sure you have everything you need to listen in.
Seedlings Available Soon
(November 16 - 8:35 am)
Million Dollar Fire Donation
(November 14 - 1:35 pm)
Fire Bills Coming In
(November 14 - 1:35 pm)
Fire And Beetle Wood
(November 9 - 8:18 am) BC
Pursues Markets for Fire and Beetle Affected Wood (November
7 - 6:20 am) Restoring
psychological health & well-being after the fires (November
6 - 9:10
am) Red Cross Fire Response
(November 3
-
7:51 am)
BC Sends 200 Fire Fighters to
California
(November 1
-
8:09 am) |
The phones are ringing off the hook at Castanet regarding some fires above the Crawford Estates area. Officials say it's a controlled burn and there's nothing to worry about. The burns will last for several days. (November 17 - 4:52 pm) The Kelowna and Area Okanagan Fire Recovery Trust Fund is mailing a $1,000 cheque to all 238 families and renters who lost their homes in the fire. An additional $600,000 to $750,000 will be distributed incoming months. The fund is accepting requests for assistance until January 30th at 868-2632. (November 13 - 5:27 pm) The Thank You List has been updated to reflect St. John Ambulance Volunteers. (November 12 - 11:06 am) The Firestorm review team will have a public meeting in Kelowna on November 26th and 27th from 1 to 9 pm at the Grand. They will be in Penticton November 25th, 1 - 9 pm at the Trade and Convention Center. (November 4 - 7:34 am) Gary Filmon has now set up a web site to gather input in his review of this summer's fires. (November 3 - 4:52 pm)
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Aerial Seeding Erosion Control
Program (October
29
-
3:09 pm)
Kelowna Facing Fire Suit (October
28
-
8:00
am)
Fire Fighters Paid This Week
(October 28
-
8:00
am)
BC Sending California Fire Aid
(October 28
-
8:00
am)
Municipalities Get Fire Money
(October 27
-
8:00
am)
Governor General
Presents Medals (October
27
-
8:00
am)
Tax Grab For T-shirts (October
27
-
8:00
am)
Governor General In Kelowna (October 25
-
9:36
am)
Feds Provide
$100
Million in Initial Disaster Assistance (October
25
-
9:36
am)
Free Tickets For Fire Victims
(October
24
-
7:29
am)
Bertram
Creek Regional Park Hit By Last Night's Storm (October
23
-
4:04
pm) CORD
Press Release The heavy rain overnight that was associated with the thunderstorm cell passing through the Central Okanagan resulted in minor flooding in a section of the Regional Park. The drainage channel running through the east section of the park quickly filled with water. As a result, mud and debris washed over the banks and into the lower parking lot. A culvert, which allows the creek to flow under Lakeshore Road, appears to have jammed with debris on the park side, directing the water out of the channel and into the parking area. Parks crews cleared the flood debris from the parking lot and have been sandbagging as a precaution, shoring up the creek banks to ensure any future water is directed along the creek bed. Regional Parks Manager Bill Kenney says, “This is perhaps an early warning of what might happen as a result of the Okanagan Mountain Provincial Park forest fire destroying much of the ground cover in the upper elevations.” Fire's
Economic Impact (October
23
- 11:10 am) Ok
Mountain Fire Not Out Yet (October
22
- 9:44 am) Fire
Mural In The Works (October
22
- 9:44 am) Clarkson
Expands Kelowna Trip (October
22
- 9:44 am) Quilts
for the Child Fire Victims Available Saturday (October
20
- 11:08 am) A representative of Fabricana will be in Kelowna on Saturday, October 25, to offer these quilts to children who have lost their homes to fire this summer. Children under the age of 10, whose homes were lost, are invited to bring their parents to Jordan’s Furniture at Kelowna Crossings Mall to help them select a quilt. Identification is requested. Filmon
Reviews Fire Damage
(October 19 -
8:30 am) Tourism
From Fire
(October 19 -
8:30 am) $2
Million In Aid
(October 12 -
12:11 pm) A
Great Big Thank You List
(October 11 -
8:20 pm)
Putting together a list like this is big task. So many groups & individuals did so much. We know we missed a lot of names. If you can help us with names from your organization please email us comments@castanet.net to let us know. Click here for the thank you list.
Celebrate Kelowna Tickets Still Available for Those Who Lost Their Homes
(October 10 -
7:39 pm)
The Recreation Centre is open: Even those without a ticket will be able to enjoy and participate in the festival. A Jumbotron television screen will be installed outside Skyreach Place, courtesy of Shaw TV, to broadcast all activities. The Celebrate Kelowna! festival begins with a parade at 10:00 a.m. on Bernard Avenue and Water Street. The indoor ceremonies begin at 12 noon and will run approximately one hour. An outdoor festival takes place in the afternoon in the Skyreach Place parking lot and the Arts Common (located between the Rotary Centre for the Arts and the Kelowna Art Gallery).
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