Two for the Koots

08/22/2026

🔥

08/22/2026

Kayla May is at All Seasons Motorsports today for their Customer Appreciation BBQ!🍗 (10 a.m. to
3p.m.)

Save on their end-of-season garage sale where they have apparel, gear, parts and accessories for your browsing pleasure! 🏍️

Come and dunk by donation for the Cranbrook Burn Fund!

Come celebrate with family and friends!

08/12/2026

Kayla is at Denham Ford today until 2 p.m. for the 11th annual Hometown 4 Hunger FUNdraiser!

Dunk her in the tank, hang out with friends and family for lunch, win an eating contest or two and check out the cool cars!

All proceeds made from today will go to our local Salvation Army food programs!

08/06/2026

REGIONAL WILDFIRE UPDATE (Posted 08.06.26)

Here is the latest on the wildfire front with information from BC Wildfire Service:
Wait Creek Fire (N11360) – Ta Ta Creek area
• The Evacuation Order and Alert for this fire have been RESCINDED. All residents are now able to return home and there are no further Alerts or Orders in effect.
• Estimated size – 1,378 ha
• While evacuation alerts and orders have been rescinded, it is important to note that this area is still very much an active worksite. Please give BC Wildfire Service crews and resources the space they need to work safely.
• Crews are working on setting up a wetline on the west flank.
• Danger tree assessing and falling along roadways is ongoing – please watch for crews and equipment working

Tower Creek Fire (N10947) - west of St. Mary Lake
• An Evacuation ALERT remains in effect for 1 property. View the Evacuation Alert at www.rdek.bc.ca
• Estimated size - 1,188 ha
• Operations are ongoing, expect to continue to see crews, heavy equipment and aviation resources in the area going forward

N11020 - Matthew Creek Fire - west of Kimberley
• The Area Restriction for the Matthew Creek area remains in effect
• Estimated size – 1,825.95 ha
• Operations are ongoing, expect to continue to see crews, heavy equipment and aviation resources in the area going forwards
• Crews are working to construct a fuel free line by hand in areas where it’s too steep for machines to work
• They are determining water sources and delivery options for contingency lines
• Control line planning, construction, and reinforcement work is ongoing by crews and equipment teams
• Danger tree assessment and falling is ongoing
• Helicopters are responding as objectives require to support crews

There are no other significant updates to share on any of the other fires.

Just a quick reminder, the Resiliency Centre for those impacted by the Wait Creek fire is open from 12 – 4pm today, with numerous resources available.

Report smoke or wildfire by phone 1 800 663-5555 or *5555 (on a mobile) or via the BC Wildfire app. Current wildfire information can be found at www.bcwildfire.ca

08/06/2026

NEWS RELEASE: Evacuation Order & Alert Fully Rescinded on Wait Creek Fire

The remaining Evacuation Alert and Evacuation Order have been fully rescinded for the Wait Creek Fire near Ta Ta Creek.

“We are incredibly grateful to the BC Wildfire crews on the ground, in equipment, in the air and coordinating behind the scenes who have worked tirelessly to ensure they get the upper hand on this fire so that residents can safely return home,” says Information Officer, Loree Duczek.

To help support residents with the recovery as they transition back home, the RDEK will be re-opening a Resiliency Centre today from 12:00pm – 4:00pm at the Wasa Community Hall.

Resources on site include:
• A representative from the Provincial Disaster Team specializing in supporting evacuees navigating some of the emotions and feelings experienced after a sudden emergency event.
o This service is open to anyone affected by the Evacuation Orders and Alerts in the region.
• Red Cross Clean Up Kits (including some simple cleaning supplies)
• The Food Hub team from the Cranbrook Food Bank will have basic food for residents who were in the Evacuation Order area.
• ESS volunteers

For residents returning home in the Ta Ta Creek area, to help with the disposal of perishables from refrigerators and other household garbage, two dumpsters have been placed by the old Ta Ta Creek gas station/post office boxes. The bins will be in place temporarily to help provide a more convenient drop-off point for residents.

“I also want to acknowledge the incredible Emergency Support Services volunteers, the Salvation Army, Cranbrook Food Bank, all the businesses and other volunteers who’ve stepped up to support people in the region who’ve been impacted by this – and other – fires in our region this summer,” adds Duczek.
The Wait Creek wildfire continues to be an active work site and residents are asked to be aware of crews and directional signage or closures in the local area.

The Rescind and Evacuation Alert along with the corresponding maps can be found on the Evacuations and Alerts page under Emergency Information on www.rdek.bc.ca

08/06/2026

EVENING UPDATE: Wait Creek Fire and the Resilience Centre (posted: Aug.5.26 11pm)

Evacuation Alert and Order:
• An Evacuation Order remains in effect for 23 dwellings WEST of the BC Hydro Transmission Line in Ta Ta Creek in the vicinity of the fire.
• The Evacuation ALERT remains in effect for 27 dwellings WEST of the BC Hydro Transmission Line in the Ta Ta Creek area near the fire.
• There are no longer any other Evacuation Alerts or Orders in effect for this fire.
• To view a map of the Evacuation Alert and Order Boundary visit the Alerts & Orders page on www.rdek.bc.ca

Here is the evening update on the fire front from the BC Wildfire Service:
• Ground crews have been working continuously on securing the completed guards using small-scale hand ignitions to remove any pockets of previously unburned fuels.
• A 20-foot wetline has been established along the south flank and crews are doing a 10-foot wetline east to west.
• They will be continuing to respond to the fire, so you can expect to see crews working within the area.

A Resilience Centre was set up this evening from 5pm to 9pm at the Wasa Community Hall and will open again tomorrow from 12pm to 4pm.

Resources on site will include:
• Red Cross Clean Up Kits (including some simple cleaning supplies)
• The Food Hub team from the Cranbrook Food Bank will have basic food for residents who were able to return home in the area where the Evacuation Order was partially rescinded today.
• A representative from the Provincial Disaster Team specializing in supporting evacuees navigating some of the emotions and feelings experienced after a sudden emergency event. This service is open to ANYONE affected by the Evacuation Orders and Alerts in the region.
• ESS volunteers

For residents returning home in the Ta Ta Creek area, to help with the disposal of perishables from refrigerators and other household garbage, we have placed dumpsters by the old Ta Ta Creek Gas Station/Post Office boxes. The bins will be in place temporarily to help provide a more convenient drop off point as you clean out fridges, etc.

There are no other significant updates to share on any of the other fires.

08/06/2026

08/06/2026

A reminder for this weekend!:

CALLING ALL MARKET MAVENS! HELP US KEEP THE CRANBROOK FARMER'S MARKET A HAVEN OF SAFETY AND SMILES!

We've noticed some of you lovely folks are keen to start shopping before we officially open at 10am, but this early bird enthusiasm is causing some hiccups for our vendors as they wrangle their setups. To keep things safe and sound, we're asking everyone to hold their horses and wait until the clock strikes 10am before entering the market area. Remember, our vendors can’t start selling the goodies until then!

Your cooperation means the world to us, and it keeps the market a happy place for all. Thank you for shopping our fresh, fun, local market!
WE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT EVERYONE'S ENTHUSIAM ABOUT THE MARKET, BUT SAFETY FIRST!!!

PLEASE "LIKE AND SHARE" THIS POST! IT IS SO IMPORTANT FOR EVERYONE'S SAFETY!!!

08/06/2026

NEWS RELEASE: EVACUATION ORDER BOUNDARY REDUCED AS PROGRESS MADE ON WAIT CREEK FIRE

There have been changes in the status of the Evacuation Alerts and Order in the vicinity of the Wait Creek wildfire near Ta Ta Creek, including a reduction in the size of the Order area.

IN EFFECT:
▪ The Evacuation Order remains in effect for 23 dwellings WEST of the BC Hydro Transmission Line
▪ The Evacuation ALERT remains in effect for 27 dwellings WEST of the BC Hydro Transmission Line

RESCINDED:
▪ The Evacuation Order has been rescinded for all properties EAST of the BC Hydro Transmission Line
▪ The Evacuation Alert has been rescinded for all properties EAST of the BC Hydro Transmission Line

“There are still 23 dwellings WEST of the Transmission Line that remain on Evacuation Order and 27 that remain on Evacuation ALERT as these properties are closest to the active area of the fire,” stresses Information Officer, Loree Duczek. “It is important for residents who are on Alert to continue to remain aware and prepared should conditions change.”

To help support residents with the recovery as they transition back home, the RDEK will be opening a Resiliency Centre tonight from 5:00pm – 9:00pm at the Wasa Community Hall. Resources on site will include:

▪ Red Cross Clean Up Kits (including some simple cleaning supplies)
▪ Salvation Army – will have dinner tonight
▪ The Food Hub team from the Cranbrook Food Bank will have basic food for residents in the Evacuation Order area.
▪ A representative from the Provincial Disaster Team specializing in supporting evacuees navigating some of the emotions and feelings experienced after a sudden emergency event.
▪ This service is open to anyone affected by the Evacuation Orders and Alerts in the region.
▪ Therapy Dogs and ESS volunteers

There have been no homes reported to have been lost as a result of the fire, though BC Wildfire has reported impacts to some outbuildings.

The Rescind and Evacuation Alert along with the corresponding maps can be found on the Evacuations and Alerts page under Emergency Information on www.rdek.bc.ca

08/03/2026

ESS RECEPTION CENTRE - NEW LOCATION & HOURS TODAY (posted: Aug.3.26 10:15am)

For those people still on Evacuation Order, the ESS Reception Centre is moving to the Cranbrook Curling Centre today and will be open from Noon to 4:00 pm.

The Curling Centre will also be hosting the meals for the evacuees by the Salvation Army with breakfast from 8am-9am, Lunch from 1pm-2pm and supper from 6pm-7:30pm.

The Reception Centre at Parkland Middle School is now closed.

The Emergency Information Line remains available for all residents at 250-426-2188 or 1-855-346-2188. When we are not staffed, there is a recorded message with the latest wildfire and other pertinent emergency updates.