Highway 97 between Okanagan Falls and Oliver closed because of a forest fire. This is on the bike course for Ironman Canada which is this Sunday. See the following (from CBC News):
*PENTICTON, B.C. - *A new forest fire has sprung up south of Penticton – between Okanagan Falls and Oliver – knocking out power in the area.
The fire, which already covers 50 hectares, has also closed Hwy 97.
Air tankers and helicopters have been called in to fight the flames. Ground crews and heavy equipment have also been dispatched to the scene.
Penticton emergency centre spokesperson Joan Doller says the fire is affecting services in several Okanagan communities.
“Phone lines are also down, and Naramata which is where I live is without power as well. You know there are lots of lines down, and we could be in for a huge problem.”
She says Naramata has issued a boil-water advisory until the power is restored.
There’s no word on what effect the power outage will have on Sunday’s scheduled Ironman Triathlon.
Someone on Gordo’s forum said that the forest fire is getting much worse:
It’s much worse than that. That fire has reached over 250 hectares and spreading fast. Mclean Creek Road (among other areas) is on evacuation alert. There is NO CHANCE of any bike or run along Skaha lake towards OK Falls. Power in Penticton is fragile, cell phone lines are (were?) down as well. If the IMNA folks pull off IMC this year it will be a miracle!
Latest update from the Ironman.ca site is that the race will go ahead with a modified swim and run course - they are notably silent about the bike course. Here’s hoping - I think we all know people who will be devastated if the race gets called off. Also, people in that area could use a distraction from the constant worry from the fires.
I just spoke with my friend paul Riegle via e-ail and he said conditions were “pretty bad” and there was substantial smoke. I remember flying into Kelowna in 1999 and seeing a huge forest fire out the window of the aircraft then. It was a incredible and terrifying spectacle. Aerial tankers were landing in Lake Okanagan to refill for water-bombing runs. It was something to see. Based on the tone of Paul’s last message it sounds pretty iffy as to whether the race will be feasible. The big thing is the situtaion seems to be changing rapidly. Anyone know what the latest is?
Smoke jumpers are unique to the US. We don’t have any in Canada. Maybe they are helping us though. Did you know that these guys (SJ) are carrying 110 pounds on their back when trekking out. Great shape.
Update from my buddy Paul as of a few minutes ago:
Tom
I think I will pass on next year also.
Sat. afternoon and the race as of now is on. But big changes 2 loops on swim and 3 loops on run in town passes Spanish Villa 6
times. As of late last nite the race was off due to road closures on bike course but those roads are now open but fire not under
control but moving in another direction. Kelowna is a mess they have reopened airport there but a different and huge fire is now
moving toward them 30,000 evac’ed over nite.
I hope the water is calm, this morning 2 foot rollers it sucked big time. Well, will send a post race update next week. We are going
to Yellowstone when this show is over.
Everyone says Hi.
We’d heard they would likely be coming, so there weren’t too many surprises at the athlete meeting when Ironman North America President Graham Fraser told the competitors that the course would be changed.
The swim will be a two-loop affair, which will be easier to monitor with the reduced number of regular volunteers who are typically in this section.
Normally there are 28 firemen out in the water … tomorrow it looks like only five will be available.
The new swim will go out parallel to the shore towards the “Sycamous” – a ship that is at the end of the beach strip here in Penticton. Running counterclockwise, the course will start out in the water. The athletes will come back towards the swim finish, but won’t get out of the water to start the second loop.
The bike course remains unchanged as of right now.
The run course has been changed … it will be a three loop course, with two out and back sections.
There are more details on the new run course posted in the run tab.
The sky today was the clearest since I arrived, essentialy no smoke. also, the afternoon winds which have been howling were essentially non-existent today. If tomorrow is like today (along the entire course) should be a great race with fast times.
The run course changes will be much more spectator friendly. If they work out, I hope they are permanent.
The firefighters are awesome - some really moving stories today about firefighters losing their own homes to flames while working to save the homes of others.
The Red Cross is also doing great work in the area - I know many people on this forum have a special feeling for that corner of the world - if you feel the urge here is a link to a rather painless online donation process for the Red Cross: https://secure.csfm.com/redcross/