Some of you know we had a major fires here in 2003 and the land is tinder dry...similar to Southern Calfifornia. We live in a semi-arrid desert area and some areas are considered desert. A major fire broke out next to a residential/town area yesterday afternoon. Since then 3-4 more fires have erupted. Two large ones are not contained yet and temperatures are hot (30-38 degrees C). Power is out in large areas, including my son's neighboring town (Peachland) and even parts of Summerland, where I live.
"After being briefed on the damage, Forests Minister Pat Bell said the Glenrosa fire had the potential to be worse than the firestorm that devastated the city in 2003."
The fires in 2003 were across the lake in a provincial park with very few residential homes at risk, except for when it did make its way to Kelowna where 239 homes exploded. That took nearly 3 weeks to happen. This time, within only a few short hours, several homes/buildings were destroyed.
We've all had a restless time since yesterday at 3 o'clock when the first fire broke out. The main highway has been closed since 5-ish last night. Winds have now shifted to the south. Due to high winds, embers from the fire(s) were seen landing some close to 75 kms away!
Full story here: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2009/07/19/kelowna-fires.html
Good news is that I get to spend some time with my grandson for a few days, because he has been separated from his mother due to evacuations and he was with his dad (my son) at this end when the fire broke out and the highway was closed. Their house is in the first area that was evacuated, which is the most vulnerable at this time. Sad news, besides the obvious, is that my daughter was supposed to fly out here on Tuesday but now with the highway closed we won't be able to get to the airport in Kelowna to pick her up, so now her visit has been put on hold.
And no sign of rain in the forecast....
"After being briefed on the damage, Forests Minister Pat Bell said the Glenrosa fire had the potential to be worse than the firestorm that devastated the city in 2003."
The fires in 2003 were across the lake in a provincial park with very few residential homes at risk, except for when it did make its way to Kelowna where 239 homes exploded. That took nearly 3 weeks to happen. This time, within only a few short hours, several homes/buildings were destroyed.
We've all had a restless time since yesterday at 3 o'clock when the first fire broke out. The main highway has been closed since 5-ish last night. Winds have now shifted to the south. Due to high winds, embers from the fire(s) were seen landing some close to 75 kms away!
Full story here: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2009/07/19/kelowna-fires.html
Good news is that I get to spend some time with my grandson for a few days, because he has been separated from his mother due to evacuations and he was with his dad (my son) at this end when the fire broke out and the highway was closed. Their house is in the first area that was evacuated, which is the most vulnerable at this time. Sad news, besides the obvious, is that my daughter was supposed to fly out here on Tuesday but now with the highway closed we won't be able to get to the airport in Kelowna to pick her up, so now her visit has been put on hold.
And no sign of rain in the forecast....
