Fond memories and community sympathies are being shared on social media after the Westside Road community learned the beloved Little Kingdom Gas Station was lost in the 62,273-hectare White Rock Lake wildfire overnight Sunday, Aug. 15.
sa国际传媒淓veryone had so much love for this store,sa国际传媒� said one Facebook user. sa国际传媒淚 just cansa国际传媒檛 believe itsa国际传媒檚 gone.sa国际传媒�
While the loss has yet to be confirmed by the Okanagan Indian Band or BC Wildfire Services, photos of what remains of the structure were forwarded to Black Press.
BC Wildfire Services confirmed sa国际传媒渟ignificant damage,sa国际传媒� to several buildings around Westside Road.
The Regional District of Central Okanagan said between 50 and 60 buildings were damaged overnight in Ewings Landing and Killiney areas and an assessment of the damage would begin this afternoon (Monday, Aug. 16).
sa国际传媒淢ultiple structures in the Killiney area experienced significant damage overnight as drought conditions and high winds increased fire action on the White Rock Lake Fire,sa国际传媒� the Central Okanagan Emergency Operations said Aug. 16.
Photographs of the communitysa国际传媒檚 general store were shared widely on social media Sunday night, with the out-of-control blaze glowing behind it.
sa国际传媒淏eyond devastated for all the loss in my community,sa国际传媒� wrote Kelsie Kilawna on the Vernon & Area Community Forum, sharing the photo. sa国际传媒淭here are no words.sa国际传媒�
sa国际传媒淚f this is confirmed, it is a huge loss for the community,sa国际传媒� wrote Wendie Rodd Voss. sa国际传媒淥ur hearts are breaking for the OKIB. Hopefully, the firefighters can contain this monster before it consumes anything more.sa国际传媒�
Fire activity was so intense Sunday night, BCWS firefighters trying to battle the blaze in the Killiney area overnight werensa国际传媒檛 able to leave until around 2 a.m, the provincial agency said.
Crews were pulled back for safety purposes, but travel along local roads wasnsa国际传媒檛 safe either and they sheltered in place in Westshore Estates until conditions improved.
Firefighters worked on protecting buildings overnight around the Six Mile area and along Okanagan Lake near Fintry Park or Ewing.
More than 140 firefighters from various fire departments across the province continue to work to protect homes and businesses in the communities of Westwold, Falkland, Cedar Hills, Pinaus Lake, Paxton Valley, and communities along Westside Road (Westshore Estates, Killiney Beach, Valley of the Sun), including Okanagan Indian Band IR#1.
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