Survival in the forests — Missing hikers Rick Moynan and Lynne Carmody tell their story
On Monday June 22, 2015 at 8:36 p.m. the Keremeos RCMP received a report of two overdue hikers. A local Lodge advised that Rick Moynan and Lynne Carmody set out around 10 a.m. to go for a hike and were due back by suppertime, but did not return. Search and Rescue (SAR) was activated immediately and began a search first thing...
Taking a Look at Post-Secondary Education from a North/South Perspective
Community college leaders from both sides of the Canada-United States border gathered at the Selkirk College Castlegar Campus last month to embark on a new north-south relationship aimed at enhancing opportunities for both students and educators. Administrative and academic leaders from Community Colleges of Spokane (CCS) and...
UPDATED: Sitkum Creek wildfire forces RDCK EOC to keep evacuation alert in place
Not much has changed for residents of the Duhamel and Sitkum Creek area as the Regional District of Central Kootenay Emergency Operations Centre continues to keep an evacuation alert in place due to the estimated 300-hectare Sitkum Creek wildfire. Residents in the area between Sitkum Creek South and Willow Point (Six Mile ...
Castlegar fire ban in effect now
Due to the very dry weather conditions, the City of Castlegar is implementing a prohibition on all outdoor burning effective July 6 (today) until further notice. This prohibition includes backyard campfires and fireworks. Deputy fire chief Sam Lattanzio said conditions within the city (as well as the rest of the province) ...
UPDATED: Southeast Fire Centre says Sitkum Creek wildfire now estimated 300 hectares
The Southeast Fire Centre in a late Sunday news release said the Sitkum Creek blaze has increased in size to a now estimated 300 hectares. The larger estimated size of this fire is due to increased visibility on Sunday which permitted more accurate mapping. "The majority of the fire's growth occurred due to high temperatures...
Evacuation Alert remains in place for Sitkum Creek South and Willow Point residents
The evacuation alert for approximately 350 residences between Sitkum Creek South and Willow Point (Six Mile Lakes Road) remains in place said Sangita Sudan Regional District of Central Kootenay Emergency Operations Centre. “At this point the Southeast Fire Centre crews are working at building a guard and at this point the...
Sitkum Creek wildfire grows to 150 hectares overnight
Southeast Fire Centre spokesperson Jordan Turner said crews would be out in full force this morning to battle the Sitkum Creek wildfire that grew significantly overnight. Turner said the interface wildfire that started at 10 hectares Saturday afternoon grew overnight to more than 15 times the original estimate. “Right now the...
RDCK issues Evacuation Alert for Duhamel/Sitkum due to North Shore wildfire
The Regional District of Central Kootenay Emergency Operations Centre has has imposed an evacuation alert concerning the interface wildfire burning on the North Shore outside of Nelson, now called the Sitkum Creek Fire (#SitkumCreek). (An interface fire is a wildland fire that puts communities and people at risk. A wind-driven...
UPDATED: Sitkum Creek/Duhamel Creek now approximately 60 hectares in size
It didn't take long for the Sitkum Creek/Duhamel Creek fire to grow. The Southeast Fire Centre is reporting the fire, located approximately four kilometers north of Nelson, had ballooned to 60 hectares in size. Status remains active as helicopters and multiple airtanker groups continue to battle the blaze until nightfall. The...
Mayor offers thanks for storm-damage management
Castlegar mayor Lawrence Chernoff is expressing gratitude in the aftermath of a significant storm Monday evening. "On behalf of the Castlegar City Council and the residents of the City of Castlegar, I would like to thank our emergency responders, City workers and Castlegar residents for their efforts and hard work during the...
