Spartan Street homeowner J.C. Oliveira hoses down his roof during last Friday’s firestorm. Evacuees received much support from the community and emergency social services. Photo by Lyonel Doherty
See, this is what Oliver is made of.
The comment reverberates as fire officials and residents look back at how the community came together in the face of a monster – firestorm 2015.
The town was literally rocked last Friday night by a state of emergency that saw two wildfires turn people’s lives upside down in the Wilson Mountain and Testalinden Creek areas.
Homeowners like J.C. Oliveira and the Amos family on Spartan Street didn’t know what to expect as the flames threatened to destroy their world. Thanks to the Oliver Fire Department, no homes were touched by fire that evening.
Oliveira, who had been enjoying a glass of wine, oblivious to what was coming, said you always hear about crises striking other people, but you never think it will happen to you.
Town councillor Larry Schwartzenberger said the fire came to within 45 feet from his home on Spartan.
“We are truly fortunate to have an absolutely fantastic fire department that did an unbelieveable job in making sure that no homes in Oliver were lost.”
Schwartzenberger returned the favour by allowing firefighters to siphon water from his pool in order to stop the fire’s advance.
Meanwhile, he and his wife Claire packed their important items and stayed with friends Friday night.
“The experience reminded me what a caring community we live in,” Larry said.
He noted that firefighters put everything on hold and risked their lives to fight those fires. He also praised the volunteers at the evacuation centre that was open all night long, and the neighbours, friends and strangers who offered their homes to evacuees.
“Oliver comes together in times of stress to help one another,” he pointed out.
Rob Graham from the Oliver Fire Department said the outpouring of support for their crew was “fantastic.”
People showed up with fruit, businesses donated cases of water, Subway donated sandwiches, and boxes of pizza also howed up.
Graham said fire victims even gave them cupcakes.
“There has been incredible support,” he said, making special mention of wives and spouses of firefighters who were tremendous caregivers.
But Graham said without the work of forestry crews, particularly the helicopters on Wilson Mountain, the devastation would have been far worse.
He also said they truly appreciated other fire departments (Willowbrook, Osoyoos and Okanagan Falls) that sent in their crews to help out.
Mark Woods, director of emergency social services, said the evacuation centre in the community hall was a system that worked. “It was a well-oiled machine, but sometimes it didn’t feel like it (during some of the chaotic moments).”
A total of 300 people were registered at the centre. He stressed the importance of evacuees registering at these centres so that volunteers can keep tabs on families.
Woods said they were bombarded with phone calls from people asking where their loved ones were . . . “trying to find mom and dad.”
Woods mentioned the dedication shown by some regional district staff who were on vacation but showed up at the centre offering to help.
Oliver Mayor Ron Hovanes was quite emotional during a press conference on Saturday. He said the community never faced a crises of this magnitude before.
“This could have been a huge, huge disaster,” he pointed out, noting the community really came together.
On Sunday, BC Premier Christy Clark came to Oliver to personally thank members of the Oliver Fire Department, forestry crews and volunteers at the evacuation centre.
When it was Fire Chief Dan Skaros’s turn to shake her hand, he said, “I’m a hugger,” and proceeded to give her a big hug.
Graham said it meant a lot to them to see the premier in Oliver that day.
It was somewhat of a bittersweet visit because Clark voiced her displeasure about a drone that grounded several aircraft during fire suppression efforts on Sunday.
She said homes could have been burning in the Testalinden Creek area while aircraft were forced to land.
The RCMP are currently investigating to determine who was responsible for the drone.
As of Tuesday, the Wilson Mountain fire, at 317 hectares, was 70 per cent contained, while the Testalinden Creek fire (1,600 hectares) was 40 per cent contained.
Two homes were damaged in the fires.
All of the evacuees have returned home, but they are still on alert.
By Lyonel Doherty
