| PEACHLAND, BC: In the wake of a rapidly escalating wildfire along Highway 97 near Peachland, Conservative MLAs are sharply criticizing the BC NDP government for failing to pave the critical Trout Main Forest Service Road, leaving residents dangerously vulnerable during evacuation emergencies where Highway 97 is closed or at risk of closure.
“The NDP’s neglect of Trout Main Forest Service Road isn’t just an inconvenience – it’s potentially life-threatening,” stated Harman Bhangu, MLA for Langley-Abbotsford and Opposition Critic for Transportation.
“British Columbians deserve safe, reliable evacuation routes so they can safely evacuate from wildfires. Residents along Highway 97 can be left stranded if that Highway is closed in a Wildfire situation. Alternate routes – paved and well maintained roads – are a necessity so we can have safe evacuation route options.”
“Conservative MLAs have been sounding the alarm about the need to pave the Trout Main Forest Service Road since January,” said Bhangu. “We’ve consistently warned Premier Eby and the NDP government about the urgent safety risks. Today’s wildfire emergency along Highway 97 is exactly why we demanded immediate action months ago.”
The Drought Hill wildfire near Peachland has already forced the evacuation of hundreds of homes, with hundreds more on alert, underscoring the urgent need for accessible, paved alternate routes.
Macklin McCall, MLA for West Kelowna-Peachland and Opposition Critic For Emergency Management added: “The Drought Hill wildfire forced the closure of Highways 97 and 97C, once again exposing how vulnerable the Okanagan is without a safe, accessible alternate route. Earlier this year, during the bridge bomb threat, families trying to use the Trout Main Forest Service Road as a detour to Penticton became stranded and had to be rescued. Without immediate action to improve and pave this road, we’re putting public safety at risk every time there’s a crisis. In a wildfire, every minute counts – but right now, our emergency response is being slowed by infrastructure that can’t handle the pressure. With no alternate route, evacuees, emergency vehicles, and the general public are all competing for space on a single road. It hampers safety, clogs up access points, and puts more people in danger just as they’re trying to get out.”
“The NDP’s continued failure to ensure safe alternate evacuation routes is completely unacceptable,” said Kelowna-Mission MLA Gavin Dew. “When people are fleeing their homes with minutes to spare, NDP inaction is gambling with lives. On top of the ongoing healthcare debacle, this is yet another way David Eby is neglecting folks in the Interior.”
“During wildfire evacuations, every minute counts,” said Kristina Loewen, MLA for Kelowna Centre. “Leaving evacuation routes like Trout Main Forest Service Road unpaved is reckless, endangering families and first responders alike.”
Amelia Boultbee, MLA for Penticton-Summerland, noted the broader pattern: “The NDP continues to fail British Columbians on infrastructure and emergency preparedness. It’s time for immediate investment in paving and improving this critical evacuation route.”
Conservative MLAs are calling on Premier David Eby and Transportation Minister Mike Farnworth to urgently prioritize and fund the paving and upgrading of the Trout Main Forest Service Road.
“Our residents deserve safe evacuation options – period,” concluded McCall.
“We demand action now, before the next emergency.”
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