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Year in Review: A look back at Revelstoke's headlines of August 2024

August
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The Frontier Motel restaurant in Revelstoke was destroyed by fire around midnight Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024. Sharon Lang/Facebook

With the start the new year, the Revelstoke Review is taking this time to share some of the stories that made headlines throughout 2024.

August

Helpless isn’t in the vocabulary of Revelstoke local Debbie Bye. Like many, after watching wildfires devastate communities like Jasper, Alberta, and Golden, B.C., she wondered what she could do to help. The answer to that question was hot dogs. Bye loaded her jeep with her grill, and headed to the Revelstoke Service Stop on Thursday July, 25, and again on Friday, July 26 to grill hot dogs for evacuees. The response from the evacuees and the community was overwhelming. Folks dropped off fresh fruit, produce and money to help support her cause. Bye was able to feed a group fleeing Jasper who left with only the clothes on their backs.

The Revelstoke Fire Department responded to a call for a possible structure fire on July 24. When the crew arrived in the 1200 block of Oscar Street and began to battle the blaze, they found the homeowner and neighbours working together to fight the fire with garden hoses. “Their actions significantly curtailed the fire’s spread and greatly reduced the potential losses and property damage,” stated a press release from the City of Revelstoke.

A collision involving a truck pulling a trailer and an SUV sent several people to hospital and caused a dog to go missing. The incident occurred on July 29 at about 6 p.m., at the intersection of the Trans Canada Highway near Big Eddy Road. Revelstoke RCMP Sgt. Derek Robin said it appeared that the SUV was turning from the highway to Big Eddy Road, cutting off the truck which was unable to stop. Individuals involved in the incident were taken to hospital with non-life threatening, but serious injuries. On July 30, the Missing Dog Response Team reported the dog was discovered deceased.

Back-to-back Sunday home games are set to follow the launch of a brand new cricket facility in town. The achievement was celebrated on Sunday, August 4, with a 30 over match against Nelson. The game, won by Nelson, was attended by a passionate crowd, with some experiencing cricket for the first time. Eager to grow its following, the club has arranged three Sunday home games this month against Salmon Arm, twice, and Vernon Cricket Club.

The Stoke Youth Network, a local organization, was busy facilitating activities to engage the youth of Revelstoke. The organization aims to engage youth with the community at large by collaborating with local businesses and organizations, as well as by bringing young people’s ideas into the discussion.

Several health and safety violations occurred in the lead-up to the death of a BC Wildfire Service firefighter near Revelstoke, a WorkSafeBC report has concluded. Devyn Gale, 19, was killed after being hit by a falling “dangerous” tree while working on a wildfire 13 kilometres northwest of Revelstoke on July 13, 2023. She was a third-year wildland firefighter. A WorkSafeBC shared its 21-page redacted report with Black Press Media Wednesday (Aug. 14). Two other wildland firefighters were injured attempting to free Gale, but their names were redacted. The report listed multiple contributing factors in her death, including incomplete dangerous tree assessment, ineffective hazard management, safe work procedures not being followed, inadequate supervision and inadequate young or new worker orientation and training. In response to the report, BC Wildfire Service’s assistant deputy minister Rob Schweitzer said “immediate and specific actions” have been taken to enhance safety and training within the organization.

The historic Frontier Motel restaurant in Revelstoke was destroyed by fire on Aug. 23. According to Revelstoke Fire Rescue Services, the downtown restaurant building was fully involved upon crews’ arrival. Multiple engines responded and crews worked to contain the blaze while evacuating all guests from the motel rooms. Other nearby structures were spared, thanks to the work of firefighters. No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire was not considered suspicious.

 



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