CASTLEGAR NEWS Thursday, August 23, 2018
Breaking news at castlegarnews.com
Vol.15 • Issue 34
Lorene MacGregor 250-304-3101 X AAX MM E// RRE
RR
Rauni Naud
Mutual funds offered by Sun Life Financial Investment Services (Canada) Inc.
• RRSP’s, RRIF’s, GIC’s, TFSA’s • Life Insurance • Income for Life • Health Insurance • Annuities • Estate & Financial Planning
1451 Columbia Ave. Castlegar, BC
250.365.0484 rauni.naud@sunlife.com
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Advisor, Member of the Million Dollar Round Table
Kootenay Crime Watch page launched
Lawrence Chernoff to seek re-election See page 2
PJ Poznekoff
phillip.poznekoff@hotmail.com phillip.poznekoff @hotmail.com
365-4679
Nancy Trotman Mortgage Broker
250-365-9513 888-998-9513
Jo-Ann Bursey Mountainview Realty Ltd.
250.304.8681 jo-ann@century21castlegar.com
See page 4
Rachel McFaddin noticed her neighbour’s truck was on fire Monday morning. (PHOTO SUBMITTED) BETSY KLINE Castlegar News
On Monday morning Rachel McFaddin did what most of us have been doing lately — she looked out her window to see how bad the smoke was. But the Blueberry resident saw something else that gave her cause for concern — a plume of dark smoke. McFaddin stepped outside and noticed a truck was on fire in a driveway just a few doors down from hers. “There was smoke and flames coming out from under the hood,” she said. She quickly called the fire department and then went for a hose. Other neighbours joined in and they set a sprinkler close to the truck. Another neighbour brought over a fire extinguisher as they waited for the Castlegar Fire Department to arrive. “They had a really, really quick response
time,” said McFaddin of the fire department. “With all the fires happening, your nerves are on edge because you don’t want to see it too close to home. But when you are not wanting to have it too close to home, and you look outside your door and it is really too close to home — you kind of want to jump into action right away.” The neighbours were at home at the time, but unaware the fire was happening. The fire department arrived less than 10 minutes after the call came in, knocked on the door and notified the rather surprised residents that their vehicle was on fire. The fire department brought one command vehicle and one engine to the scene, along with eight firefighters and was able to extinguish the fire quickly. Fire Chief Sam Lattanzio said the fire is under investigation, but foul play is not suspected.
Heavy smoke makes hard time for Syringa business JOHN BOIVIN Castlegar News
Caleb and Sarah Livingston found it a bit strange when they drove into Syringa Provincial Park on Monday night. “It was a little creepy — there’s nobody here,” said Sarah. The couple had heard good things about the park, and even the warning they would be on evacuation alert didn’t really deter the young couple from setting up camp. “No problems finding a spot to park,” laughs Sarah. “Though it was a little hard to sleep, knowing the fire was so close.” “You could see the flame above us at night,” adds Caleb, pointing through the trees to the hillside to the north of the campground. “You have the beautiful orange moon on this side,” Sarah says, nodding at the lake. “And the orange hillside on the other side. It’s pretty intimidating.” The couple wasn’t too worried — they were confident they would be alerted and told to leave if there was immediate danger. But they say they won’t be staying at the park north of Castlegar for long. “Probably not,” Sarah says. “Our son, Wyatt, is reacting to the smoke a bit, he’s really stuffed up, not feeling good. And my dog’s choking. “We’re all hurting from it. You feel heavy, tired. But it’s terrible,
no matter where you go in BC.” The Regional District of Central Kootenay issued an evacuation alert for Syringa Provincial Park on Saturday evening. It also issued an alert for the Deer Creek area, north of Syringa Park at the same time. On Tuesday afternoon, the RDCK upgraded the alert for the Deer Creek area to an evacuation order (see related story page 9). The North of Syringa Park wildfire was discovered on Aug. 11, and is about 650 hectares. It’s just four kilometres from the park. The Deer Creek wildfire is approximately 440 hectares. The alert covers the shoreline southeast along Lower Arrow Lake to the Hugh Keenleyside Dam. More than two dozen residential addresses — including the 57-unit Waterfront at Arrow Lake condominium — are also included in the Syringa Park alert. It’s not only the eastern shore of Arrow Lakes under siege. On the opposite side of the lake the Bulldog Mountain wildfire —formerly the South of Renata Creek wildfire — is currently estimated at 605 hectares. An evacuation alert for the area — from Renata down to Shields — remains in effect. Updates are being provided via the RDCK’s website, Facebook and Twitter as more information becomes available. Continued on Page A9
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