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Writer's pictureRiley Gettens

Wild Fire Warning System

An important reminder today along West Bench Drive of just how easily a fire can start and spread. Thank you to the City of Penticton Fire Department, PIB Fire Department, PENSAR, and BC Wildfire. Thank you to the citizens who called the fire into the community-led Wild Fire Warning System. Sign-up instructions.


Here is how the system works We all work together to watch for smoke or fire. If you see smoke or fire, call 911. Then, call one of the system operators. If I did this correctly, this link is to a VCF file (virtual contact file) with all the operator's names and contacts. Please make sure you have these numbers on your phone.

Wild Fire Warning System Operators


  • Peter 250-7709095 landline

  • Matt 250-4884810

  • Derek 250-4889422

  • James 250-7197263

  • Peter 250-4864942 cell


If you haven't signed up for the community-led, volunteer-driven Wild Fire Warning system, here is a past post on how to do so and a history of how this volunteer organization came to be. Thank you, volunteers! Please note that this is not an RDOS initiative; it relies on volunteers and donations.

Again, a huge thank you to all the volunteers who started this initiative and keep it going and the citizens who support it.


Cheers,

Riley

250-488-0246



If you are signed up, you received the email below today from Peter, who initiated this program. Thank you, Peter!


Today's West Bench fire

Thanks to Judy Burton for being the first of a dozen people who phoned to report this morning's fire. Some people had a system glitch in one of the voice messages. That's why we send out text messages as well. I'm following up with dialmycalls regarding the garbled message.


Annual Fundraiser

WFWS is funded by voluntary $5 donations. All funds raised go toward paying for 'credits' with dialmycalls.com -- our highly reliable service provider. To send out three text and three voice messages per fire costs about 2784 credits. (1 credit = 1 text or 1 voice message.) Or about $165 per fire. We like to have enough credits for three fires on hand so please donate if you appreciate our volunteer Wild Fire Warning System. We're down to enough credits for one more fire after today's efforts.


Westwood strata council used to pay for its share of operating costs. This year, we invite Westwood residents to contribute directly. Thanks Husula, West Bench, Westwood, and Sage Mesa residents for your continued support.


Donations

To donate, please send an Interac e-transfer to Kelly Arsenault (bcgirl407@gmail.com) or Peter Lindelauf (peterlindelauf@gmail.com). Automatic deposit with no security question.


To report a fire

This is where you come in. Call 911. Then call one of our system operators. Thanks again to everyone who called to report today's fire.

Peter 250-7709095 landline

Matt 250-4884810

Derek 250-4889422

James 250-7197263

Peter 250-4864942 cell


Other much appreciated volunteers: Aaron Michalchuk (backup operator), Kelly Arsenault (data entry), Danny Halarewich (backup scout), and Greg Carlow (backup scout).

On behalf of your WFWS volunteers, thanks to our neighbors for making this system work as it should.

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