The Westside Road landslide site on April 2, 2025.
Image Credit: FACEBOOK/Wilson's Landing Firefighters Association
April 02, 2025 - 1:55 PM
A landslide came down a wildfire ravaged slope along Westside Road east of Kelowna Tuesday night and authorities don't know when the route will reopen.
The slide struck around 9:45 p.m. on April 1 and no damage to structures or injuries have been reported, according to the latest update from the Central Okanagan Emergency Operations Centre.
“We expect emergency crews will be released later today, and the site will be turned over to the Ministry of Transportation,” Emergency Operations Centre director Sally Ginter said in the update. “We appreciate the patience of residents and motorists.”
The Emergency Operations Centre is supporting responders at the landslide site.
The road is blocked in both directions 13 kilometres east of the West Kelowna between Main Street and Denison Road, according to DriveBC.
The Ministry of Transportation said the slide is roughly 50 metres wide and two metres deep. The ministry's initial assessment is done but the site has to be deemed safe before crews can start clearing the debris.
Central Okanagan Emergency says crews were on the scene overnight and are monitoring the situation.
Kari O'Rourke, the communications officer with the emergency program told iNFOnews.ca that the Ministry of Transportation has experts on site evaluating the situation and whether the site will need further stability work after it’s cleared.
Photos of the scene posted by the contractor for the Ministry of Transportation show two separate rivers of mud and debris that have come down from the hillside above.
The photo shows the area was also involved in a wildfire in the past, with the remains of blackened trees caught up in the slide.
A statement posted on social media from the Wilson’s Landing Firefighters Association says their crews along with members of Westside Fire Rescue are providing support where its needed.
There is an assessment in progress and the next update is supposed to come at noon tomorrow, April 3. The recommended detour is via Highway 97.
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