Fintry residents Real Gousy and Rick Walker fled to Vernon from a fire near their home, for the third time in several years Friday.
But this time, the couple鈥檚 dog came with them.
鈥淭he last two times we lost a dog each time,鈥� said Walker, 67. 鈥淭hey couldn鈥檛 breath.鈥�
Just as he finished explaining how the thick smoke and ash was too much for the pups, their little shih tzu began to cough.
The loving couple calmed eight-year-old Elsa down and held her, then wiped her watering big eyes.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a lot on her too,鈥� said Walker, ahead of registering at the Emergency Support Services (ESS) reception centre at Kal Tire Place in Vernon.
It was a long morning for the couple, and hundreds of other West 琉璃神社 and Westside residents evacuated due to the McDougall Creek wildfire, which jumped the lake to the Glenmore area overnight Aug. 17.
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鈥淚 could see it coming from West 琉璃神社 and it was coming pretty fast so we had to evacuate pretty fast,鈥� said Gousy, 75.
鈥淚 hope the house will still be there.鈥�
Not only did they lose dogs in 2015 and 2021, they also lost their Killiney cabin to the White Rock Lake wildfire.
鈥淚t鈥檚 devastating,鈥� said Walker, who has a sister in Enderby they are able to stay with.
Good news, as all hotels in Vernon are full, according to ESS volunteers.
They hope it won鈥檛 be as long of an evacuation in the past. They were out for three weeks in 2021 and two weeks the time before.
鈥淢aybe we won鈥檛 be able to go back,鈥� said Gousy.
Walker, a musician and retired 琉璃神社 teacher, also lost a piano in the cabin fire. He鈥檚 hoping he doesn鈥檛 lose another home or piano, but in the end he has all he needs.
鈥淚f it goes, it goes. It鈥檚 only material stuff. We are safe and we have Elsa and we have each other.鈥�
The ESS centre at Kal Tire Place has seen hundreds of evacuees, beginning Thursday night and well into Friday.
鈥淲e had lots last night,鈥� said volunteer Rose. 鈥淲e鈥檝e had lots of people sleeping on the floor.鈥�
They even had 17 international students evacuated, but thankfully accommodations were found for them.
鈥淎nd lots of tourists. We are encouraging tourists to head home and a lot of them are.鈥�
Residents are reminded to be ready at a moments notice to leave.
鈥淲e were all ready,鈥� said Gousy, who had clothes, vitamins, medications, lap tops, phones and chargers all packed. 鈥淲e got everything last night before we went to bed.鈥�
As the wildfire situation continues to evolve in the Okanagan, Vernon residents are encouraged to take some time to consider whether they are prepared to face an emergency, and if not, what simple steps could be taken right away.
鈥淭his is an important question for all residents and visitors to consider,鈥� the city said.
Stay informed on the latest wildfire information and evacuation notices in the Okanagan and across B.C. by visiting accurate and reliable information sources such as , , .)
Receive emergency updates from the city of Vernon by signing up to receive notifications through or stay up-to-date with email updates through the .
You can also follow the city on social media channels: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Have an emergency plan
An emergency plan is a playbook for how you and your household will respond to disasters, including wildfires. Knowing what to do will reduce anxiety and help keep you focused and safe. Start by downloading a . When you鈥檙e done, communicate your plan with everyone in your household, and make copies for grab-and-go bags at home, at work and in your vehicle.
Refresh your grab and go bags
In the event of a wildfire, you may need to leave home quickly. Take time now to build grab-and-go bags for each member of your household so you鈥檙e not caught off guard. Do you have pets? Do you have young children? Are you a foster parent? Are you caring for seniors or people with disabilities? If yes, prepare and customize bags specific to their needs.
Prepare your home
We all play a critical role in mitigating wildfire risks around our homes and properties by undertaking FireSmart activities. Simple measures can make a significant difference to the survivability of structures by decreasing the intensity of a wildfire and slowing its spread.
Ensure your vehicle has fuel The tank should always be at least half-full.
Share information If you know someone who may not have access to the internet or regular news updates, share emergency preparedness information and resources with them.
Know where to go With limited hotel and camping accommodations available during the high summer season, consider making a plan to stay with family or friends in a safe location, in the event of an evacuation.
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