‘Recovery is going to be different for everybody’: At least 120 TNRD properties suffer structure loss in Pear Lake fire

That number is accurate as of B.C. Day Monday (Aug. 3), and Davies said it’s expected to grow as the TNRD has only completed rapid damage assessments near Big Bar Lake, south and west of the Village of Clinton and in the Chasm area.

While there are no reports of any structures losses in the Jesmond and High Bar areas, more assessments need to be completed near Chasm and near Meadow Lake Road.

“That is a bit of a moving target of being able to even safely, temporarily get into an area to do rapid damage assessments,” Davies said. “There is a little bit of that work happening… on Wednesday and we’re just continuing to try to get a clearer picture.”

These numbers do not include the Village of Clinton where most properties escaped without serious damage. The village did lose power and there is still no estimate when it might be restored. Elsewhere, in the Vernon-area, at least 230 homes have been destroyed by the fast-moving Bradley Creek fire but a number of community spaces were saved.

“The last thing I want is for somebody to learn they lost their home on the evening news,” Kelly Greene, B.C.’s Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, said Tuesday when asked if there was an estimated number of properties that were damaged by wildfires.

“We continue to work with our local government partners to be able to do these assessments. I’m not aware of any loss of life, thank goodness.”

Greene said Tuesday about 8,000 people had been subject to evacuations across the province, with another 7,100 told to be ready to leave at a moment’s notice. While those numbers have since changed, provincial officials are still urging people to pre-register for Emergency Support Services as they’re anticipating an increase in fire behaviour in the days ahead.

“Being evacuated is incredibly disruptive and a really challenging time for people,” Kevin Dunbar, the executive director, provincial response and recovery operations, said.

“As the province, we’re doing everything that we can in our power to support you, keep you safe and ensure people have a safe place to sleep and have the supports they need while they are evacuated – and ultimately, get them home safely as soon as they can.”

Davies said the TNRD is in the process of contacting affected property owners directly to notify them about their situations. He also said they’ll direct people to other support agencies so they can get whatever other help they might need.

“People who have suffered losses are going through probably the toughest times of their own lives,” Davies said. “We’re not rushing any of these calls to notify people and are taking the time that they need.”

“Everybody is at their own step in the process here with whatever losses they have suffered. The recovery is going to be different for everybody.”

by Victor Kaisar

‘Recovery is going to be different for everybody’: At least 120 TNRD properties suffer structure loss in Pear Lake fire

Our Community