Wildfire firefighter Travis Kinniburgh helps Kate Fisher fill a sandbag at the Eldorado Marina on Lakeshore Road in Kelowna, Thursday, May 11, 2017.
(JENNA HICKMAN / iNFOnews.ca)
May 11, 2017 - 9:58 AM
KAMLOOPS – Firefighters left Kamloops for the Okanagan in large numbers to help in the midst of what some are calling the perfect storm for an emergency flood.
Over 100 B.C. Wildfire firefighters and one agency representative left for Kelowna to help with sandbagging at the request of the Central Okanagan Regional District, fire information officer Erin Catherall says.
"Given the low fire danger rating in the Kamloops area, crews are able to assist with the situation in the Central Okanagan," Catherall says.
A number of firefighters left for Kelowna yesterday, May 10, and more left this morning. They will stay in Kelowna to help with sandbagging efforts for as long as they are needed, Catherall says.
All crew members are schooled in swift water safety and awareness. A camp in Penticton will house the firefighters working in Kelowna.
More than 100 Central Okanagan homes are under evacuation order. Click here for sandbag filling locations and more information on evacuated houses.
Officials are urging residents to stay vigilant and prepared and that recent flooding may just be a taste of what's coming.
Find past stories on the spring flooding here.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Kim Anderson or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.
We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.
News from © iNFOnews, 2017