A plan has been put forward to get people out of the Casa Loma neighborhood safely in the event of an emergency. He will appear before the West Kelowna City Council on Tuesday. The contingency plan does not include plans for a so-called second access and exit to the community, but instead works with what is currently available. West Kelowna Fire Chief Jason Brolund says a second vehicle access is something the city is carefully considering, but it is different from the project presented here. “The job we did as part of the most recent evacuation planning exercise was to look at the current situation we are in and how we would handle any kind of evacuation emergency today where there is no second way out,” Brolund said. He says several “business maps” designed as part of the exercise show all available evacuation options, including how to route vehicles north or south as soon as they reach Highway 97, drain water on Lake Okanagan or walk through trails. of the neighborhood and trails and through Kalamoir Park. They also pose hazards within the neighborhood, such as a fuel storage point and parts for landing a helicopter if needed. “We’ve also done a lot of work with the neighborhood to talk about when to leave and when to stay – the importance of an evacuation alarm as opposed to an evacuation order,” he said. “This is a project that is relevant all over our area. When people are asked to leave, it is important that they leave, but when they are awake, it means get ready but do not go because we may well arrange a phased evacuation and we are not yet ready to be on the road “. Brolund says the plan also describes the important role people play in minimizing the risk of removing hazardous fire-fighting materials from their homes and, if the time comes, having a kit and plan ready with your family to know. all outlets. “In the case of Casa Loma,” says Brolund, “if it can mean walking away and knowing how and where to go.” He says the plan shows paths through neighborhoods and between different streets. Brolund says he is pleased with the response they have received from the Casa Loma neighborhood in terms of both interest and participation. As part of the plan, several recommendations were also made, including the installation of a neighborhood warning siren, the establishment of an ESS reception center on the west side of the lake, ensuring that all fire hydrants are operational and accessible before the fire season, and the ability to upgrade inside Kalamoir Park for walking or UTV access.
