Wednesday: Terrace goes Pompeii!

Wednesday: more good news on the West Kelowna fires which are now fully contained and they have let everyone go home, although they are still on evacuation alert.

However the fire across the lake as increased to 2500 hectares and they have evacuated the small number of folks who live in the hills about Fintry. Fintry (which is a lovely place - I think you can see the houses at the bottom of the lake if you enlarge the photos) is on evacuation alert and I can see why!

That glow at the top of the mountain isn't a beautiful sunset but the actual fire!

We are safe over this side but it is a bit like being in Pompeii but without the lava, pyroclastic flows and imminient death!

But the area is completely smoked up, ash has been falling and its was 39C outside - still M & D have done an absolutely cracking job on the DIY, the shag pile is fighting a losing battle and we now have a cork floor in the lounge and hall, a new kitchen wall, reset light switches and swish new silver doorknobs which match (something of a first for this place I think!) - suspect all will come rushing to a halt when they leave.....

....hmmmm need some more visitors......!

Terrace Mountain Fire: Tuesday

Tuesday: the fire across the lake and behind the mountain has grown to over 500 hectares.

House is a bit smoky so turning on the air con as its 25C+ a night and gentle humming is preferable to smelling like Bonfire Night.

Good news on the other two fires in West Kelowna which are nearly contained (but not out).

Scrumping....Canada style

Found this little critter in the front garden munching the apples. Luckily he had a modicum of self preservation and steered clear of the peach tree!

Fire at Terrace Mt.

The fire (Terrace Mountain) across the lake - no one in danger and I am pretty sure the critters got out okay....this grew to 500 hectares on Sunday but seems to be dying down (touch wood, fingers crossed) now.

Safe and sound...

Many thanks for all the emails and phone calls....we are safely out of harms way in Carr's Landing, in fact we were watching the Terrace Mountain fire from the balcony

Have some great photos but will have to wait for M&D to download them from their camera when they get home as they were quicker of the David Bailey mark than we were....must be one of the first time wine boxes have been known to IMPROVE reaction speeds!

Also, thanks for the all suggestions on fire starting - from Shaun's electrical work (definately possibility as he shot across the room at the weekend whilst rewiring the kitchen lights) to my cooking (hmmm....).

Still it has been a salutory lesson in to just how dry and hot it gets here...house now insured up to its armpits and we are off to buy a fireproof safe at the weekend.

But the organization here has been amazing - the 10,000+ people affected are about 40 mins to the south of us on the other side of the lake and all seemed to have been evacuted at about 3am and still remain positive. Help is pouring in and all the businesses in town are offering support. Plus given the size and scope of the fires the fact that only 3 houses have been lost is amazing and a testament to the fire crews - most of whom are volunteers.

A small fire started nearer Kelowna during the weekend and before it got to 70m wide 5 HUGE bombers flew over and saturated the whole area in red gloopy gell - no chance of that one springing up.

The winds have died down since the weekend when they were quite ferocious so they seem to be getting it under control and they have infra-red camera flights to spot any hotspots during the night to prevent it flaring up again.

We have BBC World and it is quite surreal to see your new home town on the old home's national news!

But once again, thank you for all the best wishes and messages....S & T, G & A....don't worry the wine is safe!

hugs
Cara, Shaun, Dad, Mum & Otter

No we haven't been BBQ'ing

We were sitting on the deck enjoying the first fruits of Shaun's labour in the form of a cherry clafoutis - and serious on the labour - this week was a 74hr week for him...at this rate I can afford to go part time!

Ow! Eeek! That hurts! Daddddd!

So not going part time then....

..but back to the original post...a wildfire started up across from us on the opposite side of the lake (phew) at Terrace Mountain.

Luckily that area is fairly unpopulated and hopefully it will be put out before it reaches the small village of Fintry....does make you aware of how close your fire hydrant is!!

Yay - we have internet again!

Sorry for the news blackout but Telus (aka BT) have been a bit lackadasical about the internet connection...and then M & D arrived (more yays and some dignified (yes I can do on occasion) sniffling at the Greyhound station) and what with the wine tours, cherry tasting and diying (no free hols here, s&t take note!) its been a tad busy!

But we're back with loads of news, photos, cork floors...wildfires...oh yes....its all happening!