WEBVTT 1 00:00:05.120 --> 00:01:07.359 Thank you for listening to depictions media radio, and thank you for listening to 2 00:01:07.439 --> 00:01:12.120 policy and racier and depictions media radio. Fire wildfire update for British Columbia. 3 00:01:14.359 --> 00:01:19.000 There are several raging fires that are affecting of course Colonna, West Cologna. 4 00:01:19.560 --> 00:01:27.200 There are other fires that are affecting the Okanagan, and there are fires that 5 00:01:27.400 --> 00:01:37.879 are also affecting the shoe shop area and can loops in British Columbia. And 6 00:01:38.840 --> 00:01:47.200 there are also some reports that I've found one especially where the fire services are 7 00:01:47.239 --> 00:01:53.519 asking people they see equipment to leave it alone, do not move it, 8 00:01:53.879 --> 00:02:00.519 okay, on a series note, that's just crazy, stupid. You know, 9 00:02:00.599 --> 00:02:07.639 the firefighters are putting this equipment in places so that they can protect people's 10 00:02:07.680 --> 00:02:15.840 home, their property, their businesses, and to move it is just outrageous. 11 00:02:16.520 --> 00:02:20.879 It's there for a reason and they need it to remain there so that 12 00:02:21.039 --> 00:02:24.879 when they have this equipment mapped out, they actually have a coordinance where where 13 00:02:24.919 --> 00:02:30.360 this equipment is. It's mapped out so that they can share those coordinates with 14 00:02:30.439 --> 00:02:35.680 other firefighters so they know what equipment is where, so that they can put 15 00:02:35.800 --> 00:02:43.759 the fire out, stop it from spreading, save people's lives, save people's 16 00:02:43.879 --> 00:02:52.680 properties. So you're going to hear Premier David Eby say this leave it alone. 17 00:02:53.120 --> 00:02:55.879 And he's also going to talk about that they're going to add police presents 18 00:02:57.000 --> 00:03:06.879 to set equipment so that it don't get moved. Lead the equipment alone anyway. 19 00:03:07.719 --> 00:03:14.840 So they are going to be issuing orders about travel advisories, and there 20 00:03:14.879 --> 00:03:23.800 are going to be some travel advisories that are going to have some legal effects 21 00:03:23.960 --> 00:03:29.479 to them that if you go into certain areas as say West Kelowna and Kelowna, 22 00:03:30.080 --> 00:03:38.360 that there are going to well they whatever whatever the charge would be there, 23 00:03:38.560 --> 00:03:42.800 or there are will be charges put against you for traveling into those areas 24 00:03:42.840 --> 00:03:50.719 because you will be disrupting the fire efforts. So why don't we listen to 25 00:03:50.919 --> 00:03:53.520 what we said in this press conference? It is an hour long, it 26 00:03:53.560 --> 00:03:58.919 does have a lot of instructions to it, and especially if you live in 27 00:03:59.199 --> 00:04:02.759 the areas that are affected by the fire, you might want to actually just 28 00:04:02.840 --> 00:04:10.000 sit down and listen to it entirely and take some notes. So did you 29 00:04:10.120 --> 00:04:16.199 know what's what's going on? Especially if you are in the Shoe Schwap area, 30 00:04:16.240 --> 00:04:21.720 you are in the Colonial Colonal area, can Loops areas where where these 31 00:04:21.839 --> 00:04:29.560 fires are really raging. So get a pen and paper, take some notes 32 00:04:30.720 --> 00:04:43.600 and be ready to listen. I shouldn't slay with tooth. People can see 33 00:04:43.600 --> 00:04:47.199 everybody here today. It's been a difficult twenty four hours in the province for 34 00:04:47.519 --> 00:04:54.360 our frontline first responders, for the wildfire fighters, and also for communities, 35 00:04:55.040 --> 00:05:00.079 for families, for people affected by evacuation orders. While we're expecting some more 36 00:05:00.120 --> 00:05:05.439 favorable weather, I understand the situation is still incredibly serious across the province. 37 00:05:06.279 --> 00:05:12.920 PC Wildfire Service and their partners are actively working on fires across the province, 38 00:05:12.959 --> 00:05:17.600 including in Fraser Canyon, Shoe, swap Okanagan am More. We have our 39 00:05:17.639 --> 00:05:26.040 first assessment in from West Polonna only that at least fifty structures are confirmed destroyed 40 00:05:26.079 --> 00:05:30.959 by fire in that area. This is the first formal assessment. It's reasonable 41 00:05:31.000 --> 00:05:34.199 to assume that most, if not all, of these structures are homes, 42 00:05:34.959 --> 00:05:39.879 which means that these homes are gone. These are families who have lost everything. 43 00:05:40.639 --> 00:05:46.680 It is also probably news that is only going to get worse as assessments 44 00:05:46.680 --> 00:05:49.680 continue. This is just our first assessment of the West Colonna. There are 45 00:05:49.680 --> 00:05:55.079 other communities that have lost homes and those assessments will come in and that information 46 00:05:55.120 --> 00:05:59.879 will be provided as it comes available. A heavy urban search and rescue team 47 00:06:00.000 --> 00:06:05.680 it's now working in the Kelowna area providing those assessments to local government to get 48 00:06:05.720 --> 00:06:11.560 that information and those answers to people who are waiting for that news and in 49 00:06:11.680 --> 00:06:14.519 order for us to be able to move people home when they can and when 50 00:06:14.519 --> 00:06:19.839 it's safe. Tomorrow, I'll be traveling with Minister Ralston and Minister maw to 51 00:06:20.040 --> 00:06:26.279 fire affected areas. Our goal is to reassure people that we will be there 52 00:06:27.000 --> 00:06:30.240 when the crisis passes to help them rebuild, but also to get information from 53 00:06:30.279 --> 00:06:33.920 the front line about what communities need to ensure the government is as responsive as 54 00:06:33.959 --> 00:06:41.759 possible. We're working closely with the federal government as well on supporting people in 55 00:06:41.800 --> 00:06:47.560 the aftermath of this horrific disaster that they're facing. For British Columbians, we 56 00:06:47.560 --> 00:06:56.360 need everybody to really do their part right now, listen to and respect the 57 00:06:56.360 --> 00:07:00.079 travel order. It is critical that we keep the roads clear, the hotels 58 00:07:00.600 --> 00:07:05.680 available for people, and be cautious out there is a very dangerous and fluid 59 00:07:05.680 --> 00:07:11.439 situation. Still, please understand this is a very stressful situation for people in 60 00:07:11.480 --> 00:07:17.079 these local areas. The last thing they need is disaster tourists coming and interfering 61 00:07:17.120 --> 00:07:23.839 with rescue efforts. We need to understand that people in these communities need the 62 00:07:23.839 --> 00:07:30.240 compassionate concern of all British Columbians and certainly that is what we're seeing. Unfortunately, 63 00:07:30.759 --> 00:07:34.720 we are getting reports that some people are tampering with firefighter equipment, moving 64 00:07:34.720 --> 00:07:42.639 it to different locations where they think it might be more needed. And we'll 65 00:07:42.680 --> 00:07:47.079 put the best possible understanding on this that people think they're helping, they are 66 00:07:47.120 --> 00:07:53.120 not. You're not helping if you're moving firefighter equipment. Firefighters are experts. 67 00:07:53.160 --> 00:07:55.959 The equipment is put there for a reason, and when it's not there when 68 00:07:56.000 --> 00:07:59.639 the firefighters go to get it, that is a big problem. So please 69 00:07:59.680 --> 00:08:05.720 do not tamper with firefighter equipment. We have also had isolated reports of mischief 70 00:08:05.720 --> 00:08:11.360 in some areas, including theft, and so there will be increased enforcement by 71 00:08:11.399 --> 00:08:16.480 the RCMP in areas where we have seen those reports. And closing, I 72 00:08:16.519 --> 00:08:20.079 just want to say that we're very grateful for the hope that's been provided to 73 00:08:20.160 --> 00:08:24.680 community members by frontline firefighters who are putting their lives on the line to support 74 00:08:24.759 --> 00:08:31.439 community members it is hard earned, and their local government officials and First Nations 75 00:08:31.120 --> 00:08:37.000 leadership and members who are on the front line supporting right now getting information out. 76 00:08:37.159 --> 00:08:39.440 Thank you to everybody who's doing that critically important work across the province right 77 00:08:39.440 --> 00:08:43.720 now. There's also an incredible amount of hope coming from the actions of British 78 00:08:43.720 --> 00:08:48.480 Columbians supporting each other. We see people donating blankets, pet food to people 79 00:08:48.519 --> 00:08:56.279 that are in emergency shelters, in evacuation sites, looking after pets, looking 80 00:08:56.320 --> 00:09:00.480 after livestock. Just so great to see British Columbians coming together like that. 81 00:09:01.200 --> 00:09:03.960 The firefighters in Scott Creek lost their fire hall and they are still in the 82 00:09:05.000 --> 00:09:07.679 front lines fighting fires right now. It's a shared fight out there right now. 83 00:09:07.720 --> 00:09:13.120 We'll get through it together and I'm very grateful to everybody who's help, 84 00:09:13.919 --> 00:09:18.440 who's helping to respond in every way that they can. With that all turn 85 00:09:18.480 --> 00:09:26.440 things over to Minister Moth for her update. Thank you so much. Premier. 86 00:09:28.200 --> 00:09:31.240 Hello everyone, I'm honored to be speaking to all of you today from 87 00:09:31.240 --> 00:09:37.679 the territories of Musquam, the Squamish and the Slaga took people's first and foremost. 88 00:09:37.720 --> 00:09:43.799 I want to express my heart felt condolences to everybody impacted by the ongoing 89 00:09:43.879 --> 00:09:50.639 wildfire situation, those who have learned they have lost their homes and belongings in 90 00:09:50.679 --> 00:09:54.039 the wake of the devastating fires that we've experienced all the past weekend, and 91 00:09:54.159 --> 00:10:00.080 those who are still waiting for news. The pain, the sorrow, the 92 00:10:00.120 --> 00:10:03.279 uncertainty that you must be feeling is immeasurable, and I want you to know 93 00:10:03.399 --> 00:10:09.639 that we are with you during this incredibly difficult time. I'd like to recognize 94 00:10:09.639 --> 00:10:16.799 the heroic efforts of the BC wild Service firefighters, Local Department Wildfires, Local 95 00:10:16.840 --> 00:10:22.720 Department firefighters and volunteer firefighters who have worked tirelessly over the past seventy two hours 96 00:10:22.000 --> 00:10:28.320 and all season to protect people and keep community safe. Some of these brave 97 00:10:28.519 --> 00:10:33.840 firefighters had to witness their own homes succumbed to flames while they turned their attention 98 00:10:33.879 --> 00:10:39.000 to protecting the homes of their neighbors and fellow community members. To go through 99 00:10:39.039 --> 00:10:45.480 that emotional toil while selflessly protecting the homes of their neighbors and community members speaks 100 00:10:45.519 --> 00:10:50.080 to the character of our firefighting community. These brave men and women are demonstrating 101 00:10:50.120 --> 00:10:54.879 the meaning of courage in the face of the worst wildfire season in British Columbias 102 00:10:54.960 --> 00:11:01.919 history. I'd also like to acknowledge our RCMP officers, emergency management personnel, 103 00:11:01.120 --> 00:11:09.440 emergency support services personnel and volunteers healthcare professionals for working throughout the weekend to protect 104 00:11:09.519 --> 00:11:13.720 people. It miss the challenges that we are facing. The spirit of the 105 00:11:13.759 --> 00:11:18.519 community throughout British Columbia has been shining. Has been a shining beacon of hope. 106 00:11:18.960 --> 00:11:24.120 The stories I've heard of the generosity and compassion provided to support people and 107 00:11:24.200 --> 00:11:28.240 families has been inspiring. People have opened their hearts and their homes to their 108 00:11:28.240 --> 00:11:33.279 neighbors. Businesses and restaurants have been bending over backwards to support their communities. 109 00:11:33.840 --> 00:11:37.919 I know many of the accommodation providers, restaurants and other businesses have extended their 110 00:11:37.919 --> 00:11:43.279 hours to accommodate the needs of the people. People from all walks of life 111 00:11:43.320 --> 00:11:48.080 are coming together to care, protect and support one another. This is a 112 00:11:48.159 --> 00:11:54.720 team effort and it is exactly what we need. Thank you. As of 113 00:11:54.759 --> 00:11:58.519 this morning, there are more than twenty seven thousand people under evacuation order and 114 00:11:58.600 --> 00:12:03.240 more and thirty five thousand on evacuation alert. This highlights the scale of the 115 00:12:03.320 --> 00:12:09.080 challenge that our emergency management teams and first responders are facing Their coordinated efforts have 116 00:12:09.159 --> 00:12:15.320 been nothing short of remarkable. The wildfire situation continues to be extremely serious, 117 00:12:15.720 --> 00:12:20.559 impacting tens of thousands of people. I know that some people in the Cologna 118 00:12:20.639 --> 00:12:24.799 area have had to wait at the emergency Reception center during this difficult time. 119 00:12:26.320 --> 00:12:31.840 Evacuees waiting for services have been very patient as local authorities work through this monumental 120 00:12:31.879 --> 00:12:35.279 effort. We have been taking action along with the local authority who runs the 121 00:12:35.320 --> 00:12:39.720 center, to get support to people faster. The number of emergency Support volunteers 122 00:12:39.720 --> 00:12:45.360 on the ground in Cologna has been doubled since Friday. There are now more 123 00:12:45.480 --> 00:12:50.039 local volunteers working as quickly as possible through evacue applications and to help speed up 124 00:12:50.080 --> 00:12:54.679 this process and ensure that everyone has a place to stay. We are also 125 00:12:54.799 --> 00:13:00.240 starting to send part of me. We have already started to send evacuees the 126 00:13:00.279 --> 00:13:05.600 queue to their accommodations immediately. Some people started getting phone calls and emails yesterday 127 00:13:05.639 --> 00:13:11.399 afternoon with these direct accommodation placements, and the local authority expects to that process 128 00:13:11.440 --> 00:13:16.759 to be complete today. Emergency Support Services volunteers will then follow up over the 129 00:13:16.799 --> 00:13:22.639 next couple of days to formalize the referrals process. Several communities have also stepped 130 00:13:22.679 --> 00:13:26.639 up to provide virtual supports in order to help register people, and we're very 131 00:13:26.639 --> 00:13:31.559 grateful to them. When possible, I'm asking everyone in the interior, as 132 00:13:31.559 --> 00:13:39.559 well as the southeast and across British Columbia to please preregister with Emergency Support Services 133 00:13:39.600 --> 00:13:46.399 online at EESS gov doc dot CAA. I want to thank people for their 134 00:13:46.399 --> 00:13:50.720 patients during this difficult time. Everyone will be taken care of. We hope 135 00:13:50.759 --> 00:13:54.639 that the darkest days are behind us, but the situation is still evolving and 136 00:13:54.639 --> 00:13:58.679 the dangers we face are still extreme. By taking the steps to be prepared 137 00:13:58.759 --> 00:14:03.840 by following evacuation orders and alerts, you are doing everything that you can to 138 00:14:03.879 --> 00:14:07.840 protect your community. Please continue to be prepared, have an emergency plan and 139 00:14:07.879 --> 00:14:13.120 a grabbing go kit ready for you, your family and your pets. Your 140 00:14:13.159 --> 00:14:18.039 first nation or local authority will provide information on an evacuation roots and evacuation reception 141 00:14:18.080 --> 00:14:22.600 centers where you can access emergency support services. I know that this is said 142 00:14:22.759 --> 00:14:26.480 every time that we are up here, but it bears repeating because I cannot 143 00:14:26.559 --> 00:14:33.240 stress it enough. If you are under an evacuation order, you must leave 144 00:14:33.559 --> 00:14:37.720 immediately. This isn't a suggestion, it is the law. You may think 145 00:14:37.759 --> 00:14:43.399 that you are helping yourself or your neighbors by staying behind or supporting individuals who 146 00:14:43.440 --> 00:14:48.480 are staying behind with food or supply runs, but you are not. You're 147 00:14:48.519 --> 00:14:54.480 making a highly dangerous situation even more dangerous for everyone involved. I want to 148 00:14:54.519 --> 00:15:00.000 thank everybody who has been heating the evacuation orders and leaving in a safe, 149 00:15:00.120 --> 00:15:05.120 orderly manner. But for those who are not heed this call, leave, 150 00:15:05.960 --> 00:15:11.720 do not stay behind. On Friday, we declared a provincial state of emergency 151 00:15:11.759 --> 00:15:16.480 given the severe and fast changing circumstances that we are in. This declaration gives 152 00:15:16.480 --> 00:15:22.279 the province extraordinary powers to keep people, communities, and first responders safe, 153 00:15:22.559 --> 00:15:26.519 and on Saturday, we issued an order to restrict travel to a number of 154 00:15:26.519 --> 00:15:31.960 communities in the Okanagan for the purposes of staying at short term accommodation. We 155 00:15:31.039 --> 00:15:35.639 need hotel and motel rooms available for people and families that have been forced to 156 00:15:35.639 --> 00:15:41.720 evacuate, and for our frontline responders as well. The affected areas of this 157 00:15:41.879 --> 00:15:48.440 order include Cologna, Westclowna, Kamloops, Oliver Soyus, Penticton and Vernon. 158 00:15:48.039 --> 00:15:52.480 So let me be clear, temporary accommodation in the areas I have listed is 159 00:15:52.600 --> 00:16:00.480 no longer available for non essential visits. Thank you again to people for heating 160 00:16:00.480 --> 00:16:04.399 our calls to stay away from fire impacted communities entirely. Your compassion and your 161 00:16:04.480 --> 00:16:11.480 quick action has made a huge difference. We continue to ask everyone not to 162 00:16:11.480 --> 00:16:15.159 travel to the Okanagan or the shu Shwap for tourism or other non essential purposes. 163 00:16:15.600 --> 00:16:21.200 Parts of the Fraser Canyon are also struggling. With that being said, 164 00:16:22.360 --> 00:16:27.879 conditions have improved in the southeastern portion of British Columbia and I know that communities 165 00:16:27.919 --> 00:16:33.919 there are looking forward to welcoming tourists, so we are no longer asking people 166 00:16:33.960 --> 00:16:37.639 to stay out of the Southeast in its entirety. But there is still a 167 00:16:37.720 --> 00:16:44.639 need to recreate, responsibly, study the wildfire maps, check drive BC before 168 00:16:44.679 --> 00:16:49.200 you go, understand that the risk of new wildfires and changing conditions still exist, 169 00:16:49.759 --> 00:16:53.399 and pay attention to the needs of the local communities that you are visiting. 170 00:16:55.679 --> 00:17:00.639 We all need to give BC Wildfire Service personnel and for emergency respond the 171 00:17:00.679 --> 00:17:03.680 space that they need to keep us safe. Before I turn it over to 172 00:17:03.759 --> 00:17:07.920 Minister Ralston, I'd like to thank the federal government for approving our request for 173 00:17:07.960 --> 00:17:14.680 federal assistance to provide additional Canadian Forces assets and other federal resources to assist with 174 00:17:14.880 --> 00:17:18.640 evacuations, staging, and other logistical tasks. The federal government has made a 175 00:17:18.640 --> 00:17:25.839 military camp in Vernon available as accommodation for evacuees and a strategic facility for firefighting 176 00:17:25.839 --> 00:17:30.160 operation. We expect it to be open today. The Heavy Urban Search and 177 00:17:30.200 --> 00:17:33.480 Rescue Task Force is in the Okanagan and the Shuswap. They are assisting the 178 00:17:33.519 --> 00:17:38.880 regional districts with damage assessment. I would also like to thank the Skoteam National 179 00:17:38.920 --> 00:17:45.160 Government for proactively opening a group lodging center in Risk Creek to accommodate their members 180 00:17:45.160 --> 00:17:49.680 and Indigenous peoples across the province as needed. The level of core nation and 181 00:17:49.680 --> 00:17:56.680 cooperation we're experiencing across governments, first nations and emergency personnel is unprecedented and I 182 00:17:56.720 --> 00:18:00.880 know right now a lot of people have also been asking how they can help. 183 00:18:00.640 --> 00:18:07.200 The outpouring of support from food banks, community organizations and non governmental organizations 184 00:18:07.200 --> 00:18:12.279 has been nothing short of amazing and inspiring. The Canadian Red Cross and United 185 00:18:12.319 --> 00:18:18.880 Way British Columbia are among several organizations that have joined this effort. Additionally, 186 00:18:18.920 --> 00:18:23.039 the BCSPCA is providing emergency boarding for pets of evacuees and has pet food and 187 00:18:23.079 --> 00:18:29.079 supplies available for those in need. To view a list of other registered charities 188 00:18:29.119 --> 00:18:33.480 that are helping to collect donations, please visit Canada helps dot org. Thank 189 00:18:33.519 --> 00:18:41.720 you, and I will now turn it over to the Minister Elston. Thank 190 00:18:41.759 --> 00:18:47.119 you, Minister maw Good afternoon everyone. I'm Bruce Ralston, Minister for us. 191 00:18:47.160 --> 00:18:49.960 I'm honored to be here on the territory of the Muskram Squamishi and slavery 192 00:18:51.000 --> 00:18:55.240 to the people's Let me echo the words of the Premier and Minister Mall. 193 00:18:55.920 --> 00:19:00.880 My thoughts are with every person and family impacted by the wildfire situation. Our 194 00:19:00.880 --> 00:19:07.119 priority is keeping people safe and responding to the emergency. I too wish to 195 00:19:07.200 --> 00:19:15.119 thank all those fighting the fires and recognize their tremendous work. These last few 196 00:19:15.200 --> 00:19:21.720 days have been the most difficult days fighting what wildfires in BC's history. While 197 00:19:21.720 --> 00:19:26.519 we have experienced great loss, the homes and communities saved this weekend in the 198 00:19:26.559 --> 00:19:33.119 face of brave threats is a testament to the skill and determination of all those 199 00:19:33.200 --> 00:19:38.880 working to fight those fires. To have your community, your home under threat 200 00:19:38.920 --> 00:19:45.960 of fire is extremely stressful and challenging. That said, we have had reports, 201 00:19:45.960 --> 00:19:48.359 and the Premier mentioned this, We've had reports of some members of the 202 00:19:48.400 --> 00:19:56.519 public taking or moving fire equipment. This is not acceptable under any circumstances. 203 00:19:56.960 --> 00:20:02.920 When someone takes or moves fire equipment, they put their community and their neighbors 204 00:20:02.960 --> 00:20:07.559 at risk. Our first responders are literally putting their lives on the line to 205 00:20:07.599 --> 00:20:12.640 protect people's homes and livelihoods. They should not have to be concerned about whether 206 00:20:12.680 --> 00:20:18.720 their equipment will be there when they need it. I know the overwhelming majority 207 00:20:18.119 --> 00:20:22.839 of people are doing their very best to support fire crews. I implore the 208 00:20:22.880 --> 00:20:29.680 others to stop consider the needs of the families, businesses, and communities that 209 00:20:29.720 --> 00:20:34.480 they endanger by interfering with the firefighting effort. Again, I know that almost 210 00:20:34.519 --> 00:20:40.400 everyone is taking the actions needed to keep our firefighters safe, and I know 211 00:20:40.559 --> 00:20:45.160 many thousands of people are making deep sacrifices. Whether you are immediately impacted by 212 00:20:45.200 --> 00:20:52.160 an evacuation order or alert, or we're anxiously checking on loved ones in impacted 213 00:20:52.240 --> 00:20:56.799 areas. It has been a long, stressful wildfire season for too many, 214 00:20:56.880 --> 00:21:03.640 and our hearts are with the people, communities and First Nations impacted. We 215 00:21:03.680 --> 00:21:08.000 are doing everything we can and using every resource available to ensure people in British 216 00:21:08.000 --> 00:21:15.559 Columbia are kept safe in communities across British Columbia in Shushwap, Central and South 217 00:21:15.599 --> 00:21:21.640 Okanagan, the Fraser Canyon, the North, the Southeast and more. An 218 00:21:21.640 --> 00:21:26.880 Oak Cliff and the BC wild Fire Service can speak to how resources are deployed 219 00:21:26.200 --> 00:21:33.000 to tactically take on the fire situation. There are currently three hundred and eighty 220 00:21:33.039 --> 00:21:38.640 six wildfires burning across BC. Fourteen of those are fires of note. We 221 00:21:38.799 --> 00:21:45.200 continue to have approximately thirty five hundred personnel directly engaged in wildfires response efforts across 222 00:21:45.279 --> 00:21:52.079 the province. They are joined by hundreds of members of municipal fire departments assisting 223 00:21:52.079 --> 00:21:56.960 with structural protection and defense. There are now more than six hundred and fifty 224 00:21:56.960 --> 00:22:03.680 two structural firefighters deployed in coordination with the BC Wildfire Service right now. This 225 00:22:03.759 --> 00:22:08.160 is a record number for joint wildland and structural firefighting response in this province. 226 00:22:10.119 --> 00:22:15.359 I'm also pleased update that on Wednesday. This week, a hundred additional Mexican 227 00:22:15.440 --> 00:22:19.960 firefighters will arrive in BC, and the days following, two hundred South African 228 00:22:21.000 --> 00:22:26.519 personnel will arrive to assist in local firefighting efforts. Australia is once again stepping 229 00:22:26.559 --> 00:22:34.240 up to support with eighteen specialized single resources such as division supervisors, equipment branch 230 00:22:34.359 --> 00:22:41.240 directors and helicopter coordinators. We are immensely grateful to all our partners who continue 231 00:22:41.279 --> 00:22:45.559 to show up when we need them most. I know that the workload is 232 00:22:45.640 --> 00:22:51.759 challenging, but I am confident we have exactly the right people in place to 233 00:22:51.880 --> 00:22:56.559 manage this response. I'd also like to thank the federal government for making the 234 00:22:56.640 --> 00:23:04.640 military camp in Vernon available will accommodation for evacuees and a strategic facility for firefighting 235 00:23:04.680 --> 00:23:12.160 operations. Although the road ahead is immense still immensely challenging, we are fortunate 236 00:23:12.200 --> 00:23:17.559 that the weather forecast is more positive for most areas. There's also some rain 237 00:23:17.680 --> 00:23:21.839 possible for southern British Columbia in the coming days. Although it won't be the 238 00:23:21.920 --> 00:23:25.960 days of solid rain that we really need, it may be enough to allow 239 00:23:26.079 --> 00:23:30.599 fire crews to make more headway on the fires. Cooler temperatures, some rain 240 00:23:32.160 --> 00:23:36.920 and less wind in the forecast. We remain hopeful while we continue to prepare 241 00:23:37.240 --> 00:23:41.119 for difficult conditions. I'd like to finish with a brief message to everyone on 242 00:23:41.160 --> 00:23:45.480 the fire line and everyone involved in this huge effort, from our wildfire crews 243 00:23:45.559 --> 00:23:52.440 to the contractors and the municipal firefighters from around BC. I know you are 244 00:23:52.519 --> 00:23:57.119 tired. The days have been long, the work is exhausting and demanding, 245 00:23:57.640 --> 00:24:03.480 and there our season isn't even close to being over yet. On behalf of 246 00:24:03.519 --> 00:24:08.200 the people of British Columbia, let me say we support you. We are 247 00:24:08.359 --> 00:24:12.960 thankful for the heroic work you're doing, and we continue to be grateful for 248 00:24:14.039 --> 00:24:18.799 your own wavering commitment to keeping people safe. Thank you, and now I'll 249 00:24:18.799 --> 00:24:25.880 turn it over to Cliff Chapman, mister Ralston Premier and Minister ma. My 250 00:24:25.920 --> 00:24:30.079 name's Cliff Chapman. I'm the Director of Provincial Operations for BC Wildfire Service. 251 00:24:30.400 --> 00:24:33.440 I'm honored to join you today from the traditional territory of the Takamloops dis Equipment 252 00:24:33.839 --> 00:24:40.160 where I live and work today out of the Provincial Wildfire Coordination Center in Kamloops, 253 00:24:40.200 --> 00:24:45.720 BC. I would also like to extend my empathy and the organization's empathy 254 00:24:45.799 --> 00:24:51.359 and understanding of the anxiety and stress that is inherent with fires that are impacting 255 00:24:51.440 --> 00:24:55.720 communities. We know that it is stressful, we know that you need information. 256 00:24:56.119 --> 00:24:59.640 We're doing everything we can to both get you back into your home as 257 00:24:59.680 --> 00:25:03.279 well as provide information about what the fire, what our plan is to attack 258 00:25:03.319 --> 00:25:07.519 the fire, as well as what has happened today. I'm going to go 259 00:25:07.680 --> 00:25:11.680 through a run through like I have on the last couple of availabilities, where 260 00:25:11.680 --> 00:25:15.319 I'm going to walk us through with some visual aids maps to show you what 261 00:25:15.400 --> 00:25:21.039 has been transpiring on the fires. But before I do that today, I 262 00:25:21.119 --> 00:25:26.039 also just want to thank members of the public, the communities that are impacted, 263 00:25:26.079 --> 00:25:30.960 the communities that are supporting those that are impacted. Here at BC Wildfire 264 00:25:30.000 --> 00:25:36.519 Service, we are receiving letters, emails, phone calls of appreciation, and 265 00:25:37.200 --> 00:25:41.519 I know that's happening locally within our fire camps as well and even at gas 266 00:25:41.599 --> 00:25:45.039 stations when our crews are filling up their trucks. You have no idea how 267 00:25:45.119 --> 00:25:48.880 much this means to our organization and the people who are working in it. 268 00:25:48.880 --> 00:25:53.039 It is that type of recognition that keeps them going. That keeps them going 269 00:25:53.279 --> 00:25:57.279 on their fifth, sixth, and seventh deployments of the year this year, 270 00:25:57.519 --> 00:26:03.000 as our fire season started so early and has continued now up until almost the 271 00:26:03.119 --> 00:26:07.400 end of August, I encourage everyone to please do that. Continue to do 272 00:26:07.440 --> 00:26:11.880 that, Continue to thank those that you see that are actively engaged in response, 273 00:26:11.240 --> 00:26:15.839 actively engaged at your local eocs. It means the world. I also 274 00:26:15.920 --> 00:26:19.519 want to address two pieces that have come up in the last couple of days 275 00:26:21.400 --> 00:26:26.160 around some challenges and some questions that are out there within the media, but 276 00:26:26.240 --> 00:26:33.039 I think more importantly within the public, recognizing that fire is extremely stressful and 277 00:26:33.079 --> 00:26:37.319 when we see impacts like we are seeing in West Kelowna, in the Shuswap, 278 00:26:37.039 --> 00:26:41.599 in the Fraser Canyon, there's a lot of stress and anxiety about what 279 00:26:41.720 --> 00:26:45.480 happened and what are we doing now? And I appreciate these questions and rest 280 00:26:45.480 --> 00:26:49.640 assured we are doing everything we can to try to provide BC with as much 281 00:26:49.680 --> 00:26:56.160 information that we have on one what happened and secondly, what we're doing now. 282 00:26:56.119 --> 00:27:00.200 I want to address the first part or the first question here, which 283 00:27:00.240 --> 00:27:07.200 is around prioritizing resources for the McDougal fire and only the McDougal fire. Let 284 00:27:07.240 --> 00:27:11.079 me be very clear, we are not only prioritizing the McDougall fire in West 285 00:27:11.119 --> 00:27:18.200 Kelowna and Kelowna. We have multiple priority fires across the province, particularly centered 286 00:27:18.200 --> 00:27:22.079 in the southern portion of the province, including but not limited to, the 287 00:27:22.160 --> 00:27:29.240 Adams Lake Complex, Kuka Pei Kop, Kokeepee Creek wildfire, the Bender Complex 288 00:27:29.319 --> 00:27:33.319 which is in and around Lilouette Lytton, as well as the fires that is 289 00:27:33.400 --> 00:27:37.440 in the Ashnola and a couple in the southeast. For clarity, we have 290 00:27:37.519 --> 00:27:41.359 one hundred and sixty four people assigned to the McDougall Creek wildfire in Cologna and 291 00:27:41.400 --> 00:27:45.680 West Kelowna. There are three hundred and eighty five people assigned to the Adams 292 00:27:45.799 --> 00:27:49.079 Lake Complex, There's over one hundred and thirty people assigned to Kokeepee Creek, 293 00:27:49.440 --> 00:27:52.920 and there's over one hundred and eighty resources assigned to the Bender Complex in the 294 00:27:52.960 --> 00:28:00.000 Fraser Canyon. We evaluate daily ground operations and make decisions on moving resources based 295 00:28:00.039 --> 00:28:04.440 on where the most potential and significant impact of the fires will be to life 296 00:28:04.480 --> 00:28:07.960 and property. That will continue for the rest of the fire season, and 297 00:28:08.039 --> 00:28:12.319 we will see numbers go up and down based on what those potential impacts could 298 00:28:12.359 --> 00:28:18.240 be. The resources that Minister Ralston reference coming into BC will be assigned largely 299 00:28:18.359 --> 00:28:22.079 to the fires within the Camel's Fire Center and the Fraser Canyon, and we 300 00:28:22.119 --> 00:28:26.960 will see those numbers of resources tick up from where they are today. The 301 00:28:27.079 --> 00:28:32.039 second piece I want to discuss is around an operational tactic that we refer to 302 00:28:32.200 --> 00:28:38.039 and wildfire as planned ignitions. Planned ignitions for clarity and in fairly simple terms, 303 00:28:38.160 --> 00:28:44.480 is where we will build and or utilize an existing control line, something 304 00:28:44.559 --> 00:28:48.559 that is unflammable, a power line, where we might use heavy equipment to 305 00:28:48.599 --> 00:28:52.920 get down the mineral soil, a lake, a highway, or any variation 306 00:28:52.039 --> 00:28:56.519 of that. That was what we would call a control line. We build 307 00:28:56.559 --> 00:29:00.640 it in front of the head of the fire, the main body of the 308 00:29:00.720 --> 00:29:04.920 fire, and then we conduct a planned ignition utilizing weather experts, fire experts, 309 00:29:04.960 --> 00:29:10.960 and operational experts based on what weather is currently on site and what weather 310 00:29:11.119 --> 00:29:15.039 is coming. The goal of a planned ignition is to work from the control 311 00:29:15.119 --> 00:29:18.640 line to the main body of the fire and remove all fuel by burning it. 312 00:29:19.359 --> 00:29:23.440 The main body of the fire generally has wind that draws into it, 313 00:29:23.759 --> 00:29:27.039 and so when we light off of the control line, it pulls the fire 314 00:29:27.519 --> 00:29:33.759 back into itself, thus eliminating fuels between the main body of the fire and 315 00:29:33.880 --> 00:29:37.880 anything past that control line. I want to specifically talk about the Atoms Lake 316 00:29:38.519 --> 00:29:45.400 Lower East Atoms fire. We did conduct a planned ignition on that fire last 317 00:29:45.480 --> 00:29:49.240 Thursday. We did it cautiously. We did it knowing that there was a 318 00:29:49.279 --> 00:29:53.359 cold front coming. As BC is aware, we discussed the cold front coming 319 00:29:53.440 --> 00:29:59.079 on Wednesday and Thursday. We knew the winds were coming. As those winds 320 00:29:59.400 --> 00:30:03.720 were appro going through the Caribou Fire Center, there was a continuous line of 321 00:30:03.759 --> 00:30:08.160 fuel between the main body of the fire and all of the communities along the 322 00:30:08.240 --> 00:30:12.599 North shu Schwap. We did our planned ignition under the conditions in which we 323 00:30:12.759 --> 00:30:18.960 planned for, and it was largely successful. I want to be perfectly clear 324 00:30:18.079 --> 00:30:25.319 that planned ignition saved hundreds of homes and properties along the North Shoechwap. Unfortunately, 325 00:30:25.400 --> 00:30:29.079 with the wind that we knew was forecast and that was coming, that 326 00:30:29.279 --> 00:30:33.440 fire went above the control line that we burned off from and then swept back 327 00:30:33.559 --> 00:30:37.839 into the communities in the North Shushwap. We were still successful in protecting some 328 00:30:38.160 --> 00:30:42.640 of those properties along the North sho Swap in the hundreds. Unfortunately, we've 329 00:30:42.680 --> 00:30:48.240 also now seen the devastation the main body of that fire had in areas like 330 00:30:48.319 --> 00:30:52.640 Scotch Creek, Solista and others, and our hearts go out to those individuals 331 00:30:52.680 --> 00:30:57.559 who have seen the devastating impacts of that fire making its push. Our planned 332 00:30:57.559 --> 00:31:03.400 ignition is used quite frequently in BC. It is also used across the globe. 333 00:31:03.799 --> 00:31:07.000 When conditions are as dry as they are in a year like this in 334 00:31:07.079 --> 00:31:15.240 BC, traditional firefighting tactics like water bombers and ground operations will not be successful. 335 00:31:15.240 --> 00:31:21.319 Eliminating the fuel is in a lot of cases the best way to try 336 00:31:21.400 --> 00:31:25.799 to protect any infrastructure and values ahead of the front of a fire. And 337 00:31:25.880 --> 00:31:30.440 when we know that there's forty to fifty kilometers sustained winds coming, we knew 338 00:31:30.519 --> 00:31:33.039 that we had to eliminate that fuel, and again I would like to stress 339 00:31:33.359 --> 00:31:38.519 it was largely successful and it protected hundreds of properties in the Shoe Schwap area. 340 00:31:40.079 --> 00:31:44.200 I also would like to just make one point of clarity that it was 341 00:31:44.319 --> 00:31:48.680 not our planned ignition that allowed the two fires in the Adams Lake area to 342 00:31:48.839 --> 00:31:53.640 merge. It was actually the cold front winds that pushed the fires together and 343 00:31:53.839 --> 00:32:00.359 merging them towards Highway One, which ultimately ended ultimately led to the close of 344 00:32:00.440 --> 00:32:04.400 Highway one. So I just want to thank everyone for hearing me out on 345 00:32:04.480 --> 00:32:07.519 those two pieces. And now I'll go into a more thorough operational update. 346 00:32:16.279 --> 00:32:21.839 So as we sit today, we do still see some extreme fire behavior being 347 00:32:21.880 --> 00:32:25.480 observed throughout the province. Right now, we have not seen extreme fire behavior 348 00:32:25.640 --> 00:32:30.880 observed within the McDougal complex, and we have seen actually a drop in fire 349 00:32:30.960 --> 00:32:35.839 behavior on the Atoms Lake Complex as well. Where we continue to see aggressive 350 00:32:35.920 --> 00:32:39.319 fire behavior is in the Fraser Canyon, and that's due to the sustained winds 351 00:32:39.359 --> 00:32:44.720 of the valley and the valley orientation north to south in that valley. Continue 352 00:32:44.720 --> 00:32:47.559 to see a large response presence in that valley. But and but with it, 353 00:32:47.640 --> 00:32:52.400 we're still seeing some aggressive fire behavior starting in the Atoms Lake Complex. 354 00:32:52.599 --> 00:32:58.359 Again, just for clarity, the dots are somewhat of the growth over the 355 00:32:58.480 --> 00:33:02.400 last now it's the last seventy two hours. Anything that's more colored in red 356 00:33:02.759 --> 00:33:07.799 was the perimeter of the fire pre last Thursday's cold front passage. So you 357 00:33:07.920 --> 00:33:13.319 can see how much this fire has moved over the course of the last couple 358 00:33:13.400 --> 00:33:16.759 of days, mostly on Thursday and Friday last week. You can see that 359 00:33:16.799 --> 00:33:22.720 it has crossed Highway one and is just sitting in between Chase and Sorrento on 360 00:33:22.839 --> 00:33:27.279 that side, as well as you can see where some of the fire growth 361 00:33:27.359 --> 00:33:32.160 has been to the north and northeast towards the Shushwap. We are fortunate and 362 00:33:32.240 --> 00:33:37.000 I'm happy to report that with the change in weather conditions we are able to 363 00:33:37.640 --> 00:33:39.799 get heavy equipment out on the ground. We've had the ability to get our 364 00:33:39.839 --> 00:33:45.279 ground resources back on the ground. Challenging for us on this fire today and 365 00:33:45.440 --> 00:33:50.480 likely tomorrow is going to be smoke impacts. Anyone who lives in the interior 366 00:33:50.559 --> 00:33:53.039 and Kamlooks knows that we have a heavy blanket of smoke right now. In 367 00:33:53.160 --> 00:33:59.079 visibility and Transport Canada regulations, it's going to be touch and go how much 368 00:33:59.160 --> 00:34:02.000 we can fly the next twelve hours, hoping that with a little bit of 369 00:34:04.039 --> 00:34:08.039 precipitation potentially coming that we may see that smoke clear and it will allow us 370 00:34:08.119 --> 00:34:13.559 to get our aviation fleet back in the air, moving down to what we're 371 00:34:13.599 --> 00:34:16.559 now calling the Grouse Complex which is West Kelowna, Kelowna and Lake Country. 372 00:34:17.039 --> 00:34:22.320 Very successful operational day on these fires yesterday, as you have likely seen, 373 00:34:22.400 --> 00:34:27.679 we were able to recommend making some orders back into alerts. We've also had 374 00:34:27.719 --> 00:34:31.320 a lot of success with our ground operations pushing heavy equipment around these fires and 375 00:34:31.480 --> 00:34:36.840 trying to get ensure that we can contain them so that no matter what the 376 00:34:36.880 --> 00:34:39.960 weather brings in the coming days, that we have the ability to operate off 377 00:34:40.000 --> 00:34:44.320 of our containment lines and try to keep these fires in their box and not 378 00:34:44.480 --> 00:34:49.880 see any more impacts to communities and infrastructure. On this fire in particular, 379 00:34:49.920 --> 00:34:52.880 as well as in the Adams Complex, it would be a miss if I 380 00:34:52.000 --> 00:34:58.199 didn't thank municipal fire departments, local governments, first nation governments for really stepping 381 00:34:58.320 --> 00:35:02.400 up and partnering with BC Fire Service. We cannot do this alone. We 382 00:35:02.559 --> 00:35:07.119 need that partnership. We really all have to show up to try to get 383 00:35:07.199 --> 00:35:10.800 people home and do it in a safe way. The Bender complex, which 384 00:35:10.800 --> 00:35:15.559 I spoke about in the Fraser Canyon at where we are still seeing quite significant 385 00:35:15.599 --> 00:35:21.320 fire behavior on the left is the Downton fire. That fire has seen a 386 00:35:21.360 --> 00:35:30.079 bit more growth and has some challenging SPS in Goldbridge Gun Lake as well as 387 00:35:30.199 --> 00:35:36.599 now starting to see the addition needing additional resources structure protection resources for the communities 388 00:35:36.639 --> 00:35:39.760 up and down the Fraser Canyon, just to be safe with fires to the 389 00:35:39.880 --> 00:35:46.400 north being the Bender Complex and fires to the south being Kokipie Creek. Quickly, 390 00:35:46.519 --> 00:35:52.559 just touch on the Crater Creek fire down by lower Similki Mean Indian Band 391 00:35:52.599 --> 00:35:57.000 and Karamius. Some good news on this fire as well. While the fire 392 00:35:57.079 --> 00:36:00.400 did push into the United States, we have a strong partnership with the United 393 00:36:00.480 --> 00:36:04.920 States. We're working together on that end of the fire as well as where 394 00:36:04.960 --> 00:36:10.000 the fire is situated currently above Karamius and LSIB we have we had a fire 395 00:36:10.079 --> 00:36:15.239 there three I believe three years ago, quite a substantial fire and so the 396 00:36:15.360 --> 00:36:21.599 main body of the Crater Creek fire is not able to continue to burn towards 397 00:36:21.719 --> 00:36:27.280 the Highway three. So some successful tactics going on on this fire and continue 398 00:36:27.320 --> 00:36:32.119 to see a little bit of growth but nothing significant. Upper Park Real Creek 399 00:36:32.239 --> 00:36:40.800 fire just outside oh sorry, going back, so this fire is roughly eleven 400 00:36:40.920 --> 00:36:44.639 hundred hectors. We did see a little bit of growth in the last forty 401 00:36:44.679 --> 00:36:49.960 eight hours, nothing substantial and we are having good success on the ground on 402 00:36:50.039 --> 00:36:52.840 this fire with heavy equipment, ground resources, and yesterday we're able to fly 403 00:36:53.000 --> 00:37:00.880 aviation assets on it, so roughly eleven hundred hectors. We're feeling fairly confident 404 00:37:00.000 --> 00:37:06.000 with our operation on this fire, and again thanks to the strong partnerships that 405 00:37:06.039 --> 00:37:12.400 we have in the area. Coukeepee Creek Fire in the Fraser Canyon. Obviously 406 00:37:12.519 --> 00:37:15.719 this fire, it was last Friday that it made its significant push across the 407 00:37:15.880 --> 00:37:22.119 river and across Highway One. We are still seeing the challenges of the valley 408 00:37:22.239 --> 00:37:27.639 orientation coming out of the Nahat Latch which runs east to west into the Fraser 409 00:37:27.760 --> 00:37:30.239 Canyon that runs north to south, and so you can see this fire has 410 00:37:30.320 --> 00:37:35.800 made some push to the north towards Kanaka Bar. We haven't seen a lot 411 00:37:35.880 --> 00:37:37.880 of growth to the south, and we have seen some growth over to the 412 00:37:38.000 --> 00:37:43.199 east. We do have some operable ground, although it's very steep in this 413 00:37:43.400 --> 00:37:45.760 valley. We do have some operable ground to the north and to the south. 414 00:37:46.239 --> 00:37:50.599 A little bit more challenging as it gets into the steep draw canyons across 415 00:37:50.719 --> 00:37:54.159 Highway One. But we are making a plan and working with the local communities 416 00:37:54.199 --> 00:38:00.800 to ensure that that plan works for everyone in that valley is quickly touch on 417 00:38:00.920 --> 00:38:05.199 resourcing. As discussed, we have roughly thirty five hundred people engaged in fire 418 00:38:05.280 --> 00:38:09.280 response across the province today. We do have a hundred Mexican firefighters arriving on 419 00:38:09.400 --> 00:38:14.320 Tuesday, two hundred South Africans at the end of the week and additional single 420 00:38:14.400 --> 00:38:17.880 resources. Continue to see a large rotary wing aviation fleet with one hundred and 421 00:38:17.880 --> 00:38:22.519 twenty eight helicopters, thirty five air tankers, and we are starting to see 422 00:38:23.119 --> 00:38:28.559 record breaking numbers in terms of BC wildfire service, in terms of structure protection 423 00:38:28.679 --> 00:38:32.320 resources with two hundred and eighty eight out in the field again thanking municipal fire 424 00:38:32.360 --> 00:38:37.480 departments for their support of this effort in a very challenging fire season. And 425 00:38:37.599 --> 00:38:42.960 we have flown just about eight hundred air tanker missions in twenty twenty three. 426 00:38:43.920 --> 00:38:47.239 In two twenty one, which was also a very challenging fire year for the 427 00:38:47.440 --> 00:38:51.199 entire season, we flew eight hundreds. So we are likely to break that 428 00:38:51.360 --> 00:38:54.199 record here today as long as the smoke lifts and we're able to fly. 429 00:38:57.719 --> 00:39:01.000 So that's the briefing for today. I want to thank you very much and 430 00:39:01.360 --> 00:39:07.519 Premier eb I'll allow you to take questions. Thanks, allow you to take 431 00:39:07.639 --> 00:39:13.119 questions. Great, Thanks Cliff, thank you for joining us today. We're 432 00:39:13.119 --> 00:39:15.400 going to begin with some questions in the room and then go into questions on 433 00:39:15.480 --> 00:39:19.320 the phone line. With those on the phone line, let's press Star one 434 00:39:19.400 --> 00:39:22.760 to enter the queue. All members of the media will be limited to one 435 00:39:22.880 --> 00:39:27.039 question and one follow up. We'll begin with Ben Jur from CTV News. 436 00:39:27.119 --> 00:39:30.159 Go ahead, then, thank you. My question is in regards to the 437 00:39:30.280 --> 00:39:35.840 travel ban A two part here there is some confusion about short term rentals such 438 00:39:35.880 --> 00:39:40.639 as Airbnb. Do they fall under this travel ban as well? And then 439 00:39:40.719 --> 00:39:45.199 also bigger picture, this is Prime Tourist season four. The Okanagan tourism operators 440 00:39:45.440 --> 00:39:50.400 tell us they're doing their part, but they are already looking ahead and wondering 441 00:39:50.719 --> 00:39:53.760 if there will be financial compensation for the losses that they may incur, whether 442 00:39:53.840 --> 00:39:59.679 that be hotels or tour operators. Okay, thanks, thanks for the question. 443 00:40:00.719 --> 00:40:07.519 So for Airbnb and people who host on Airbnb, we're really asking them 444 00:40:07.679 --> 00:40:14.360 to take the same approach that we're asking commercial hotels to take, which is 445 00:40:14.440 --> 00:40:17.679 to have understanding about the fact that we're asking people not to travel to the 446 00:40:17.719 --> 00:40:23.199 area, not to be tourists and disaster areas in the province, and to 447 00:40:23.639 --> 00:40:28.239 be flexible around refunds. Were client the company to be supportive of that, 448 00:40:28.519 --> 00:40:31.880 and certainly people who are hosting to be supportive of that. That's our expectation. 449 00:40:32.519 --> 00:40:37.440 The formal definition of temporary accommodation in the order does not include Airbnbs, 450 00:40:38.000 --> 00:40:42.760 but I think it would be a bit of a stretch to think that you 451 00:40:42.760 --> 00:40:45.639 should be traveling to these areas if you have an Airbnb book. The answer 452 00:40:45.719 --> 00:40:49.239 is do not travel, do not go to those areas. And for those 453 00:40:49.760 --> 00:40:52.199 companies and those individuals whore involved with Airbnb, we asked them to be flexible 454 00:40:52.239 --> 00:40:57.480 and understanding and support people in terms of support for the tourism sector. Absolutely 455 00:40:57.599 --> 00:41:01.119 will be supporting the tourism sector. They're facing significant impacts. One of the 456 00:41:01.199 --> 00:41:06.800 immediate realities though, is that the hotel rooms that are coming available is when 457 00:41:06.840 --> 00:41:09.519 they become available, they're being snapped up by the province so that we can 458 00:41:09.559 --> 00:41:15.440 provide accommodation for firefighters and for people who've been evacuated from their homes. And 459 00:41:15.639 --> 00:41:22.679 so the business is shifting from tourists to accommodating frontline responders and families, individuals 460 00:41:22.679 --> 00:41:27.639 who are an emergency response centers right now, And so very grateful to the 461 00:41:27.679 --> 00:41:30.440 Hotel Association for working with us, hotel owners, working with us to be 462 00:41:30.519 --> 00:41:35.719 able to ensure that there's a tight link between that accommodation becoming available and moving 463 00:41:35.800 --> 00:41:38.119 someone in right away so we can get them out of a gymnasium or a 464 00:41:38.159 --> 00:41:43.960 community center or whatever and into at least a hotel room. Okay, thanks, 465 00:41:44.920 --> 00:41:49.119 thank you, up I do. In recent years, many Birds Columbians 466 00:41:49.159 --> 00:41:53.079 have come to rely on social media networks to get news articles, to share 467 00:41:53.199 --> 00:42:00.039 news articles. Obviously, Facebook Instagram are no longer allowing Canadian news content to 468 00:42:00.159 --> 00:42:04.679 be shared on their platforms. Is the VC government finding it difficult to get 469 00:42:04.719 --> 00:42:08.320 its message out to people? Do you have concerns with the ban on Canadian 470 00:42:08.360 --> 00:42:14.519 news content on these platforms during this time of immense disaster. Well, this 471 00:42:15.039 --> 00:42:17.280 is the time in British Columbia where people are pulling together, whether they own 472 00:42:17.320 --> 00:42:22.960 a company or whether they are opening it or home up to friends, relatives, 473 00:42:22.079 --> 00:42:29.679 or sometimes even strangers, to support neighbors with livestock, to support people 474 00:42:29.679 --> 00:42:32.920 who have pets, and everybody pulling together. I heard a story this morning 475 00:42:34.000 --> 00:42:37.440 from an MLA about a guy who owns a fuel company who saw that a 476 00:42:37.480 --> 00:42:40.920 pump needed fuel and he didn't have the authorization yet to put the fuel to 477 00:42:42.000 --> 00:42:45.239 keep that pump going. To cover the cost that fuel, he went ahead 478 00:42:45.280 --> 00:42:46.880 and fueled it up so that we could work it out later. That is 479 00:42:46.920 --> 00:42:52.760 the approach of companies that we're seeing in British Columbia. I find it astonishing 480 00:42:52.400 --> 00:42:58.280 that we are at this stage of the crisis and the owners of Facebook and 481 00:42:58.440 --> 00:43:00.559 Instagram have not come forward and said, look, we're trying to make a 482 00:43:00.599 --> 00:43:05.079 point with the federal government, but it's more important that people are safe. 483 00:43:05.559 --> 00:43:09.639 It's more important that they have access to basic information through our networks, and 484 00:43:09.760 --> 00:43:13.760 then we can deal with our concerns with the federal government and their new laws 485 00:43:13.880 --> 00:43:20.400 later. I call on Facebook again, mister Zuckerberg, open up access to 486 00:43:20.480 --> 00:43:24.480 Canadian media so that British Columbians can share critical local information so they can be 487 00:43:24.599 --> 00:43:30.039 safe. It's it's it's incredibly frustrating to me that we have to be making 488 00:43:30.159 --> 00:43:35.559 us call at this stage in the crisis. But I hope that that common 489 00:43:35.639 --> 00:43:40.800 sense prevails there. But currently it seems to be in short supply. My 490 00:43:40.880 --> 00:43:44.960 next question we're going to do with the phone lines with Richards Ismant from Global 491 00:43:45.000 --> 00:43:50.159 News. Go ahead, Richard, I'm not sure that this is for it. 492 00:43:50.280 --> 00:43:53.559 Maybe for Cliff. Residents are trying to get supplies in the community trapped 493 00:43:53.639 --> 00:43:59.440 near angle Mock by boats. They've apparently been blocked with duty. So well 494 00:43:59.480 --> 00:44:02.119 you can say to people to reassure them the supplies and services are getting to 495 00:44:02.199 --> 00:44:06.960 the communities that need them. And Cliff to the issue you were speaking too 496 00:44:07.079 --> 00:44:14.760 earlier about that controlled bird. How confident are you that no additional homes were 497 00:44:14.880 --> 00:44:19.360 lost due to the decision made around thember. Okay, thanks Richard, I'll 498 00:44:19.400 --> 00:44:22.119 turn that over to Cliff. Actually take the second question first, and then 499 00:44:22.159 --> 00:44:25.280 members of the public services something NASA specific question about Anglemont. Very much, 500 00:44:25.400 --> 00:44:30.360 Richard, it is a really good question, and I guess I would say 501 00:44:30.519 --> 00:44:35.960 I am I am very confident that that planned ignition went ahead under the right 502 00:44:36.039 --> 00:44:39.719 planning context to remove fuel between the main body of the fire and the communities 503 00:44:39.760 --> 00:44:45.719 in the North Shushwap. I am confident it was not our planned ignition that 504 00:44:45.880 --> 00:44:50.320 made that fire move into the North Shushwap. The winds were forty kilometers an 505 00:44:50.360 --> 00:44:55.239 hour sustained. We saw that fire maker twenty two kilometer run around our planned 506 00:44:55.280 --> 00:45:00.559 ignition. I am confident that that planned ignition rem move fuel and saved homes. 507 00:45:02.880 --> 00:45:10.800 Ian Cunnings from EMCR will be taking the next question right in great Thank 508 00:45:10.840 --> 00:45:16.079 you, Premier. My name is Ian Cunnings. I'm the senior director for 509 00:45:16.440 --> 00:45:25.519 Response Operations for Emergency Management Climate Readiness. In terms of resupply, EMCR Regional 510 00:45:25.639 --> 00:45:34.320 Operations Center out of came Loops is working closely with local government DOCS and if 511 00:45:34.400 --> 00:45:40.440 there were a need for assistance with that local government dec we would then provide 512 00:45:40.519 --> 00:45:46.159 that support. So we would just encourage concerned residents to get in touch with 513 00:45:46.280 --> 00:45:52.480 their local government for that support. Thank you, Premier. Thanks yea, 514 00:45:52.119 --> 00:46:00.679 Premier, Thanks Yems. Your David Bolt question. I know we're in the 515 00:46:00.760 --> 00:46:04.360 very early stages here of what comes next for the people of Cologna and West 516 00:46:04.400 --> 00:46:07.719 Cologna in the entire region. But are there guarantee from you that this will 517 00:46:07.800 --> 00:46:13.719 not take the same amount of time as the people of Liveen of experience that 518 00:46:13.840 --> 00:46:15.880 they are still waiting to get back into their homes. You know, what 519 00:46:16.000 --> 00:46:22.280 sort of commitment will there be to be rebuilding here in this community. Well, 520 00:46:22.320 --> 00:46:25.719 we'll be working incredibly closely with local authorities. We're already working closely with 521 00:46:25.800 --> 00:46:30.920 the federal government to ensure that those families, starting with the news we got 522 00:46:30.960 --> 00:46:36.960 today of the fifty structures that we lost in West Cologna, most of which 523 00:46:37.000 --> 00:46:43.239 are likely homes, making sure that people are supported. The bad news is 524 00:46:43.280 --> 00:46:47.039 going to continue to come in family homes destroyed across the province due to fire. 525 00:46:47.960 --> 00:46:52.159 As you've heard from Cliff, as you heard from Minister ma this is 526 00:46:52.199 --> 00:46:55.920 still a very serious and volatile situation. We are not out of the woods 527 00:46:57.039 --> 00:47:00.639 yet, and the government at all levels, local government, provincial government, 528 00:47:00.679 --> 00:47:05.000 and federal government will be working together to ensure that people are looked after and 529 00:47:05.119 --> 00:47:10.199 supported. Our mast questions can come from Rob Shaw from check News. Go 530 00:47:10.239 --> 00:47:15.400 ahead, Rob Hi there. I know this is a bit of a delicate 531 00:47:15.519 --> 00:47:20.840 question, but are we sure that everyone is okay? Is anyone missing? 532 00:47:21.199 --> 00:47:23.960 Are we worried that anyone has been killed in any of these buyers or can't 533 00:47:23.960 --> 00:47:31.519 be accounted for or how do we know that? This is Rob implicit in 534 00:47:31.559 --> 00:47:37.039 your questions, This is an incredibly dangerous situation. When Minister Moss says you 535 00:47:37.159 --> 00:47:42.239 get an order to evacuate. Please evacuate. Certainly, do not go into 536 00:47:42.320 --> 00:47:45.719 an area that's under an evacuation order. That is the highest level of risk 537 00:47:46.599 --> 00:47:51.159 for your own life, for the lives of first responders that are going to 538 00:47:51.320 --> 00:47:53.719 try to fight that fire, because all of a sudden they're going in to 539 00:47:53.760 --> 00:47:58.119 try to get somebody out that shouldn't be in the area in the first place. 540 00:47:58.320 --> 00:48:00.960 That is where the danger to life and safety is the absolute highest. 541 00:48:01.440 --> 00:48:07.559 With that, I'm going to turn it over to Cliff to provide any information 542 00:48:07.639 --> 00:48:10.840 you can from the front lines about about any reports of missing people or anything 543 00:48:10.920 --> 00:48:15.800 like that. Cliff, thank you Premier, and you're right, it is 544 00:48:15.960 --> 00:48:22.079 implicit as it was a very scary situation that occurred last Thursday and last Friday, 545 00:48:22.400 --> 00:48:28.719 with that type of wind sustained through the night into the darkness, evacuation 546 00:48:28.840 --> 00:48:31.280 orders going in. Obviously, at this point in time, we have not 547 00:48:31.440 --> 00:48:37.960 been made aware of any impacts to humans, but that doesn't mean that we 548 00:48:37.519 --> 00:48:42.559 may not in the coming days. Obviously, we continue to focus on trying 549 00:48:42.599 --> 00:48:45.920 to protect the structures that are standing, focused in our on the response to 550 00:48:46.039 --> 00:48:51.639 those fires and Ian I'm not sure if if there's anything to add from EMCR, 551 00:48:51.719 --> 00:48:55.519 but there is nothing that's come across PC Wildfire Services organization in terms of 552 00:48:57.000 --> 00:49:06.079 your question, that's correct. We we have seeing them for nothing to add 553 00:49:07.480 --> 00:49:15.559 no no reports of missing persons into EMCR. Thanks Premier sim then Rob Dao 554 00:49:17.159 --> 00:49:22.400 then Rob da fol question. Sure, thanks. I guess the fact on 555 00:49:22.800 --> 00:49:30.840 this You've talked about thanking the communities that have sent municipal fire crews and I'm 556 00:49:30.880 --> 00:49:34.960 just wondering if you could expand a bit on you mentioned structural protection, like 557 00:49:35.079 --> 00:49:39.320 what can you do with these crews that you couldn't do without them in terms 558 00:49:39.360 --> 00:49:43.559 of firefighting? What does it mean to have them there and how useful is 559 00:49:43.599 --> 00:49:47.639 it in terms of actually protecting homes? Thanks Cliff. I think this is 560 00:49:47.719 --> 00:49:52.880 one for you. It really there is a there is a distinct difference between 561 00:49:53.000 --> 00:49:59.800 municipal fire departments and what BC Wildfire Services, both training, experience and really 562 00:50:00.039 --> 00:50:04.280 mandates are to accomplish within BC. And that's why it is so imperative for 563 00:50:04.400 --> 00:50:07.920 us to work in true partnership and unified command as we are on the McDougall 564 00:50:08.000 --> 00:50:13.079 fire and working closely as we are in the Atoms fire and fires across the 565 00:50:13.159 --> 00:50:15.920 province. When we call in municipal fire departments. They support us in our 566 00:50:15.960 --> 00:50:22.119 structure protection, which is the deployment of sprinklers, pumps, mass water delivery 567 00:50:22.199 --> 00:50:27.920 systems, quite a complex system to try to reduce the relative humidity in and 568 00:50:28.000 --> 00:50:31.719 around the community as well as directly spray water into the fuels so that the 569 00:50:31.800 --> 00:50:38.320 fire has less fuel to burn in an ideal situation. The municipal fire departments 570 00:50:38.360 --> 00:50:43.840 can also fight the structure fires. So when we see the impacts like we 571 00:50:43.920 --> 00:50:45.920 did in West Kelowna, when we see the impacts like we did in the 572 00:50:45.920 --> 00:50:52.360 Shuswap, municipal departments are trained in structure defense and they are able to actually 573 00:50:52.599 --> 00:50:55.679 suppress the homes that might be on fire. I think this is one important 574 00:50:55.719 --> 00:51:01.119 piece because wildfire. The BC Wildfire Service firefighters, while they can support the 575 00:51:01.199 --> 00:51:06.360 deployment of sprinklers, they are generally focused on trying to steer the fire away 576 00:51:06.480 --> 00:51:10.920 from the community and using our suppression tactics to keep the fire out of communities. 577 00:51:10.960 --> 00:51:16.079 And that's why sometimes when you see within West Kelowna or perhaps around the 578 00:51:16.119 --> 00:51:21.039 Shoeshwap, you may not see the BC Wildfire Service reds and blues. You 579 00:51:21.159 --> 00:51:25.000 might see municipal departments because that is their area of expertise. Our staff are 580 00:51:25.079 --> 00:51:29.719 in the forest trying to steer that fire, put in containment lines, use 581 00:51:29.760 --> 00:51:32.360 heavy equipment, so it really does have to be a partnership, and there 582 00:51:32.480 --> 00:51:37.320 is a difference between what the two types of crews can do. Obviously most 583 00:51:37.360 --> 00:51:42.639 effective when we work together, and that's what we're doing right now, doing 584 00:51:42.760 --> 00:51:47.960 right now. Our next question we'll come from Joe Ruddle from the Vancouver Sun. 585 00:51:49.199 --> 00:51:55.480 Go ahead, Joe, yes, Hi. With these wildfire seasons getting 586 00:51:55.519 --> 00:52:04.719 worse here and everywhere, are there fire prevention strategies and or technologies being used 587 00:52:04.760 --> 00:52:09.119 elsewhere in places like Australia, the DC is studying and considering adopting here. 588 00:52:12.760 --> 00:52:22.639 Thanks for the question. Thanks, so, in terms of fire prevention strategies 589 00:52:22.719 --> 00:52:32.400 around wildfire, the interface areas between forests where wildfire areas are and homes is 590 00:52:32.960 --> 00:52:42.039 a critical prevention mechanism. We put additional resources into expanding the areas where trees 591 00:52:42.079 --> 00:52:45.400 are removed in interface areas with communities. It's also had the added benefit of 592 00:52:45.480 --> 00:52:52.239 providing wood to mills in British Columbia, given the impact that forest fires and 593 00:52:52.280 --> 00:52:54.760 pine beetle have had on our forest industry, it's one of the initiatives we 594 00:52:54.840 --> 00:53:02.239 put in place to both support the forest industry but also to prevent forest fires 595 00:53:02.320 --> 00:53:08.480 from spreading into urban areas. There are also building code provisions that can be 596 00:53:08.639 --> 00:53:15.400 taken to reduce the risk of wildfire spreading in urban areas, including sprinklers and 597 00:53:15.400 --> 00:53:16.880 the materials that are used in the construction of buildings. There was a lot 598 00:53:16.920 --> 00:53:21.880 of discussion about that and the discussion about what would be allowed and not in 599 00:53:21.920 --> 00:53:25.559 the reconstruction of the city of Letton, for example, and the Public service 600 00:53:25.599 --> 00:53:30.079 that's responsible for the BC Building Code and the National Building Quote I'm sure will 601 00:53:30.119 --> 00:53:35.320 be taking note of these impacts, as they did following the fire in Letton, 602 00:53:35.920 --> 00:53:38.039 to determine whether or not our building code needs to be amended in certain 603 00:53:38.079 --> 00:53:45.719 areas of the province. Charity question, Yes, this one might be for 604 00:53:45.840 --> 00:53:53.159 Cliff. Is there still a concern that the remnants of Hurricane Hillary could create 605 00:53:53.280 --> 00:54:00.760 strong winds and exacerbate some of these fires. I would say the the remnants 606 00:54:00.760 --> 00:54:04.039 of that hurricane it's a bit of a double edged sword for BC. So 607 00:54:04.199 --> 00:54:07.159 on one hand, there is actually a chance of precipitation coming into the southern 608 00:54:07.239 --> 00:54:13.000 portion of the province effect of really starting late this afternoon, and even better 609 00:54:13.119 --> 00:54:17.440 chance tomorrow is that the remnants of the hurricane really kind of finishes off it's 610 00:54:17.519 --> 00:54:22.199 run into BC. So that's positive news, and we're talking about not enough 611 00:54:22.280 --> 00:54:27.440 to end the season, unfortunately, but probably five to ten millimeters of rain 612 00:54:27.880 --> 00:54:31.920 within the southeast portion of the province and somewhere between one and five mills across 613 00:54:32.000 --> 00:54:36.480 the Camps Fire Center, which is obviously where we have our Adams Complex, 614 00:54:36.639 --> 00:54:40.320 Bender Complex and McDougall Creek fire. So there is good news in terms of 615 00:54:40.760 --> 00:54:45.320 precipitation. The other edge of that sort is exactly what you reference, which 616 00:54:45.400 --> 00:54:50.360 is the winds that may be associated with it. So we are anticipating some 617 00:54:50.599 --> 00:54:53.840 winds to come with this thermal air mass that's coming through, but it will 618 00:54:53.920 --> 00:54:59.199 not be the same as what we experienced on Thursday and Friday. Couple of 619 00:54:59.280 --> 00:55:02.920 different variables to that we're not in the middle at the end of a heat 620 00:55:02.960 --> 00:55:07.480 wave, which is a positive thing. And the winds are not forecasted to 621 00:55:07.559 --> 00:55:12.360 be sustained for as long as they were last week, so we may see 622 00:55:12.440 --> 00:55:16.280 gusts up to thirty kilometers an hour, but they're really forecast to be generally 623 00:55:16.360 --> 00:55:20.760 much more mild than what we saw last week, ten to twenty kilometers an 624 00:55:20.800 --> 00:55:24.519 hour, which is for August firefighting conditions in BC. That's relatively typical, 625 00:55:24.760 --> 00:55:30.559 so good news on the rain. Will continue to monitor the wind as it 626 00:55:30.760 --> 00:55:34.880 as that the remnants of that hurricane starts to push into BC. Thank you, 627 00:55:37.519 --> 00:55:42.159 thank you, And our next question is going to come from Camille Pains 628 00:55:42.239 --> 00:55:46.280 from the Canadian Press. Go ahead, Camille here. I don't know if 629 00:55:46.480 --> 00:55:52.199 a minister is there right now for a question I have on patients from the 630 00:55:52.280 --> 00:56:00.039 North Blood territory, but it is I think I think Minister Mack can take 631 00:56:00.119 --> 00:56:05.079 that and her staff from emper may be able to assist. Thank you. 632 00:56:05.360 --> 00:56:08.760 Okay, thank you. Could you tell me how many patients from the North 633 00:56:08.840 --> 00:56:14.679 Wet territories are currently can seeing whether more are affected. Yes, so, 634 00:56:15.079 --> 00:56:19.239 so first off, I want to emphasize that our hearts are certainly with the 635 00:56:19.440 --> 00:56:25.440 people of the Northwest territories. We are kindred spirits in this challenge together seeing 636 00:56:25.480 --> 00:56:30.000 what's happening here in British Columbia as well as up in the Northwest. So 637 00:56:30.159 --> 00:56:37.360 we have safely received over nineteen hospital patients and sixteen care home residents from Northwest 638 00:56:37.440 --> 00:56:43.000 territories. They've been transferred to Vancouver Coastal Health, Fraser Health and Providence and 639 00:56:43.239 --> 00:56:47.280 we are continuing to support as we can, but also of course very mindful 640 00:56:47.360 --> 00:56:58.280 of the emergency that we are facing here in British Columbia as one, are 641 00:56:58.400 --> 00:57:05.400 any patients from outwhere in DC or I've expected to be moved to other regions. 642 00:57:07.039 --> 00:57:15.199 Yes, there is actually a significant evacuation of long term care home patients 643 00:57:15.400 --> 00:57:20.559 seniors from the Kelowna shoe shop areas. Let us follow up with you. 644 00:57:21.480 --> 00:57:23.800 We'll connect with our colleagues over a Ministry of Health to follow up with you 645 00:57:24.000 --> 00:57:30.840 on details on that. Next questions we come from Lisa used to for sitting 646 00:57:30.880 --> 00:57:37.039 nears, go ahead us. Oh, either're just wondering, and I know, 647 00:57:37.679 --> 00:57:39.880 as you said earlier at the beginning, it's very early days. But 648 00:57:40.320 --> 00:57:45.119 for the rebuilding aspect of it, or I guess just putting people's lives back 649 00:57:45.159 --> 00:57:49.920 together after it. For people who don't have insurance coverage, whether they're a 650 00:57:50.000 --> 00:57:52.599 tenant or an owner just in a mortgage, are there supports for them or 651 00:57:52.639 --> 00:57:54.719 are there going to be people who are just going to be out of luck? 652 00:57:55.880 --> 00:58:00.480 So the loss of a home is absolutely devast dating and I want to 653 00:58:00.559 --> 00:58:07.400 emphasize how challenging this is for the people who are at risk of losing their 654 00:58:07.440 --> 00:58:10.400 homes yet and who have already received confirmation that their homes have been lost. 655 00:58:10.480 --> 00:58:15.039 I know that there are a lot of people and families hurting out there right 656 00:58:15.119 --> 00:58:21.519 now. In the past, federal disaster financial assistance programs have not covered losses 657 00:58:22.360 --> 00:58:25.760 that are insurable, so that's like fire. But right now, local authorities 658 00:58:27.119 --> 00:58:30.760 are assessing what is happening on the ground. We are working closely with them 659 00:58:30.840 --> 00:58:35.679 to get a real full sense of the extent of the damage. Unfortunately, 660 00:58:35.760 --> 00:58:38.800 we are not yet through the wildfire season. There are still several weeks to 661 00:58:38.880 --> 00:58:45.519 come. I will say that for those who have lost homes and structures, 662 00:58:46.000 --> 00:58:52.440 wild home insurance is widely available in every community across the province, and I 663 00:58:52.599 --> 00:58:58.760 really encourage homeowners to connect with their insurance providers or to reach out to the 664 00:58:58.800 --> 00:59:01.119 Insurance Bureau of Canada. I have a phone number here that I can offer. 665 00:59:01.199 --> 00:59:07.079 It's one eight four four two two seven five four two two. But 666 00:59:07.559 --> 00:59:10.760 as we begin to move into recovery, as a premier said, we will 667 00:59:10.840 --> 00:59:15.679 continue to work very closely with local government's First Nations, regional districts to understand 668 00:59:15.719 --> 00:59:20.440 the extent of the damage and how we can best support people through this. 669 00:59:22.400 --> 00:59:28.199 It is a unifollowup question. And just when you're talking about people coming to 670 00:59:28.440 --> 00:59:31.400 visit or holiday, is a soy use like is that southed us? And 671 00:59:31.480 --> 00:59:35.639 that's okay, Well, you still want people to stay over like Cathol Guard 672 00:59:35.760 --> 00:59:42.119 southern area, so in the southeast. Actually, you know, I'm going 673 00:59:42.199 --> 00:59:45.960 to get Cliff to maybe comment on where the line he might recommend is here, 674 00:59:46.440 --> 00:59:52.039 but I will say a soius is part of our emergency order restricting travel 675 00:59:52.199 --> 00:59:57.480 for the purposes of accommodation. I know that places like a solius, like 676 00:59:57.719 --> 01:00:01.079 Vernon, like Pentictant, they are not under active threat of major fire, 677 01:00:01.199 --> 01:00:08.719 but they are significant host communities for evacuees from those regions that are experiencing threats 678 01:00:08.760 --> 01:00:15.880 from fire. So the emergency order absolutely restricts people from traveling into places like 679 01:00:16.039 --> 01:00:22.679 a soy use like Vernon, like Penticton, Tom, I'll say that again 680 01:00:22.760 --> 01:00:30.440 for clarity. Our emergency order restricts all travelers who are traveling for non essential 681 01:00:30.480 --> 01:00:36.360 purpose from going into a soy use conticton Vernon, Cologna, West Cologna, 682 01:00:36.880 --> 01:00:42.000 Oliver, make sure I have that list for the purposes of staying in overnight 683 01:00:42.039 --> 01:00:46.760 accommodation. Cliff, did you want to comment down Castlegar area and further east 684 01:00:46.800 --> 01:00:53.440 from that? So obviously it's august INBC. August In BC is typically when 685 01:00:53.519 --> 01:00:58.760 we have are one of our worst two fire months, and this year is 686 01:00:58.800 --> 01:01:02.599 no exception to that. Obviously, however, the conditions in the southeast have 687 01:01:02.840 --> 01:01:07.679 been relatively stable. We do have fires in the southeast, and I encourage 688 01:01:07.760 --> 01:01:13.559 everybody who may be visiting and or traveling through the southeast portion of the province 689 01:01:13.719 --> 01:01:16.960 using Revelstoke sort of as that western boundary and pushing all the way to the 690 01:01:17.039 --> 01:01:22.880 Alberta border, just encourage everybody to download our app. Make sure you're paying 691 01:01:22.920 --> 01:01:27.000 attention to the weather, know if there's lightning forecasts, know if there's wind 692 01:01:27.079 --> 01:01:30.960 forecast, and know where the fires are, so so that if you are 693 01:01:30.119 --> 01:01:35.199 recreating or you're traveling through that area one that we can rely on you to 694 01:01:35.320 --> 01:01:38.159 call in potentially new fires given that there might be smoke impacts in that area 695 01:01:38.280 --> 01:01:42.519 for the next number of days, but also for your own safety and the 696 01:01:42.559 --> 01:01:46.880 safety of your family. So really asking everyone in BC to be prepared as 697 01:01:46.880 --> 01:01:51.840 an individual, whether that's at home or for travel. Because it is still 698 01:01:51.880 --> 01:01:54.519 August. We are still going to see temperatures getting into the thirty degree range 699 01:01:54.559 --> 01:01:59.480 and maybe slightly higher than that, and there is still potential really across the 700 01:01:59.559 --> 01:02:02.519 province to have significant fire behavior. It is not the same as what we 701 01:02:02.639 --> 01:02:07.039 experienced last Thursday and Friday, and I just want to stress that. And 702 01:02:07.199 --> 01:02:09.159 so yes, you can go to the southeast. And again I will say, 703 01:02:09.280 --> 01:02:14.920 kind of using Revelstoke as the western boundary to the Alberta border, we 704 01:02:15.039 --> 01:02:19.039 do not have the same impacts on the landscape from fire that we do within 705 01:02:19.119 --> 01:02:22.639 the Camlos Fire Center and the restricted areas. And just for a clarity, 706 01:02:22.679 --> 01:02:27.360 i'll give that look. Just for a clarity, I'll give that list again 707 01:02:27.559 --> 01:02:31.599 of the cities that are specifically named in the order. So again we've got 708 01:02:31.760 --> 01:02:37.960 two pieces of communication here. One is a travel communication. Don't go into 709 01:02:37.000 --> 01:02:43.199 the Okanagan, don't go into the Shoe Shwa for tourism or for fun. 710 01:02:43.719 --> 01:02:49.679 And then by law, travelers will not be able to travel to stay in 711 01:02:49.760 --> 01:02:55.079 temporary accommodations in Kelowna, West Kolowna, Camloops, all over a Soyu's, 712 01:02:55.320 --> 01:03:46.320 Penticton and vermon So. Hopefully that provides greater clar The show has been produced 713 01:03:46.360 --> 01:03:57.880 by Depictions Media. Please contact us at Depictions DO Media for more information. M