Update: Slocan area wildfire evacuation order for 16 properties, evacuation alert for 190 more

On the recommendation of the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS), the Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK) Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) has issued an Evacuation Order for 16 properties due to the Mulvey Creek wildfire, which is part of the Slocan Lake complex of fires.

A list of those properties, and a map, can be found here.

Residents and visitors are required to leave the evacuation order area immediately. Evacuated residents are asked to go to their pre-arranged emergency locations and register online with Emergency Support Services (ESS) at https://ess.gov.bc.ca/. If you do not have a pre-arranged location and require support, please report to the Selkirk College Castlegar Complex, located at 301 Frank Beinder Way Castlegar BC, V1N 4L3. The Reception Centre will be open until 11:00PM tonight, and will reopen on July 22 at 8:00AM. Short-term assistance for immediate needs of food, shelter and clothing may be provided by ESS volunteers following registration at the above website. For further assistance you can call the RDCK EOC pubic inquiry line at 250-352-7701.

ESS may not be able to accommodate your pets, so make sure you have prepared your pets by having appropriate cages, food, water and bowls, and ensure they are wearing identification. You may wish to arrange to have your pets cared for by family or friends.

Access to the Evacuation Order area is being controlled. You will not be permitted to return to your home during and Evacuation Order unless it is safe to do so and you have been given permission by local officials and emergency personnel.

An Evacuation Alert has also been issued for 190 properties east of the Village of Slocan and south beyond Lemon Creek in Electoral Area H because of the Ponderosa wildfire.

A map and a list of the properties covered by the Ponderosa evacuation alert can be found here.

At this time residents or visitors within the area are not required to evacuate, however the RDCK advises people to remain vigilant and be prepared to leave the area at a moment’s notice.

It is recommended to prepare a grab-and-go bag packed with the essentials and make a plan of where to go if you are evacuated. Emergency Services Support (ESS) provides a tool to register online if you are on Evacuation Order or if you are preparing for an evacuation. To register or create a profile go to https://ess.gov.bc.ca/.

The Ponderosa and Mulvey Creek wildfires are part of the Slocan Lake Fire Complex. A complex is created when multiple wildfires are managed by a single incident management team, and resources and equipment are shared between all incidents in the complex.