Kelowna Fire Chief Travis Whitingsa国际传媒檚 voice cracked ever so slightly as he was giving the news, that the Walroy Lake wildfire is now classified as being held, all evacuated Kelowna residents will be returning home sa国际传媒� hopefully by the end of the day.
Good news for Lake Country as well as the Clarke Creek wildfire is no longer out of control and is classified as being held.
Those listening to the Thursday, Aug. 24 briefing could hear the relief, and excitement, in Whitingsa国际传媒檚 voice after the kind of week that makes heroes out of firefighters, emergency responders and the leaders that steer the ship of complex firefighting operations.
sa国际传媒淭his is really exciting news. I can tell you at the fire hall the mood is very, very high and very, very positive this morning,sa国际传媒� Whiting said. sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 been our goal for the last seven days to get all our residents home safely, and we couldnsa国际传媒檛 be more excited to see this happen todaysa国际传媒hatsa国际传媒檚 a big deal.sa国际传媒�
There was a triumphant air to Thursdaysa国际传媒檚 presser, though it was tempered by reminders that there is still firefighting to be done, and not all neighbourhoods are in the clear. And while the weather has cooperated of late, that can change quickly.
Asked how it feels to be able to offer good news to evacuated Kelowna residents, Whiting said sa国际传媒渋tsa国际传媒檚 very real.sa国际传媒�
sa国际传媒淲e wear our hearts on our sleeves, I think yousa国际传媒檝e seen that at this table over the last week, and itsa国际传媒檚 why we do what we do and wesa国际传媒檙e impassioned about it, and the fact that wesa国际传媒檙e returning people home today is very real for me and itsa国际传媒檚 very real for the crews.sa国际传媒�
Whiting encouraged residents to visit for up-to-date information as evacuation orders continue to be rescinded.
West Kelowna Fire Chief Jason Brolund said support from the communities has been felt by fire and emergency crews, and it has an invigorating effect.
sa国际传媒淚t really is the fuel that keeps us all going. Being able to read your comments and the cards that yousa国际传媒檝e dropped off and see the signs outside the fire hall is what fuels my men and women, as well as all of the men and women who are involved, so I want to thank you for that,sa国际传媒� he said.
sa国际传媒淭here are so many people who are working on this,sa国际传媒� Brolund continued, adding itsa国际传媒檚 not just emergency services who are working tirelessly anymore; now that parts of the area have entered the recovery stage, there are a lot more people whose efforts must be appreciated.
sa国际传媒淭he recovery component of this incident is growing by the moment. But, we will get the job done on the ground.sa国际传媒�
Whiting took a moment to express his appreciation for BC Wildfire Service as well as sa国际传媒渢he many structural departments that attended and our own crews from Kelowna Fire Department that have spent the last seven days dug in deep.
Whiting noted that those returning home wonsa国际传媒檛 be returning to the same neighbourhood they left, as the fire has burned very close to many homes, scorching backyards. Crews will be conducting danger tree assessments and the public is asked to stay away from areas where crews are doing this work, for their safety.
While sa国际传媒渢housandssa国际传媒� of homes have been saved, not everyone has a home to return to, and West Kelowna Mayor Gord Milsom offered his condolences to those people.
sa国际传媒淚 had an opportunity to tour some of our neighbourhoods with our fire chief yesterday and it was really heart-wrenching to see some of the destruction,sa国际传媒� he said. sa国际传媒淚 just wanted to express on behalf of myself and our city council our deepest sympathies for all those who have lost their homes, and just want to let you know that yousa国际传媒檙e not alone, wesa国际传媒檙e here to help you now and in the months and years to come.sa国际传媒�
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