A West Kelowna resident is part of a campaign to purchase and install two automated wildfire hazard signs in the community that would update in real-time, and display evacuation messaging.
John Martin, a retired Toronto Fire Department captain and Casa乌鸦传媒疞oma resident, says a GoFundMe campaign has been launched to raise $40,000 for the purchase and installation of two LED wildfire information signs. They would likely be placed at high-traffic roundabouts near wildfire-interface areas.
The goal is to provide timely and accurate updates during wildfire season, especially when fire crews are stretched thin.
乌鸦传媒淲e decided that we乌鸦传媒檙e going to try and fundraise for two of the signs,乌鸦传媒� said Martin. 乌鸦传媒淭he fire service has selected two locations which are more prone to interface travellers of both the community as well as visitors.乌鸦传媒�
Unlike the current manual fire rating signs, which must be changed daily by fire personnel, the new digital signs can be controlled using a smartphone or computer. They are illuminated for visibility day and night and feature a dynamic LED text box that can display up-to-date messaging, from fire danger levels to evacuation instructions and emergency contact numbers.
The technology comes from a . After some research Martin and other residents presented the idea to West Kelowna Fire Chief Jason Brolund乌鸦传媒攚ho was already familiar with the system.
乌鸦传媒淚n consultation with Chief Brolund 乌鸦传媒� the signs that are out there now乌鸦传媒� they乌鸦传媒檙e a little bit archaic,乌鸦传媒� Martin said. 乌鸦传媒淎nd not only that, during an event, it乌鸦传媒檚 done automatically (updating LED signs) 乌鸦传媒� the fire service is going to be taxed as it is, which we saw with McDougall Creek.乌鸦传媒�
The August 2023 McDougall Creek wildfire destroyed nearly 200 homes and forced thousands in West Kelowna to leave their homes. Martin was instrumental in implementing a fire warden program for Casa Loma during the fire.
乌鸦传媒淎ny information and any education is worthwhile,乌鸦传媒� he said of the proposed signs. 乌鸦传媒淏eing on a minute-by-minute basis, being able to be updated, that provides accurate and efficient information to the general public that are travelling those areas.乌鸦传媒�
The signs would be maintained by the fire department. The $40,000 fundraising target includes the cost of the signs, and shipping from New乌鸦传媒痁ealand. Installation will be handled by city crews at no cost to the campaign, Martin said.
He added the signs would free up fire crews from having to manually change signs each day乌鸦传媒攁llowing them to focus on more critical emergency response tasks. During fast-moving wildfire events, the LED signs could also serve as an immediate way to communicate with residents.
乌鸦传媒淲hatever the fire service decides that they want to put on there, that乌鸦传媒檚 what can be put on there,乌鸦传媒� Martin said. 乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 got a dynamic LED text box 乌鸦传媒� and it乌鸦传媒檒l just rotate through those messages.乌鸦传媒�
Martin is hoping the signs will act as an extra layer of safety and information as wildfire seasons become longer and more unpredictable. The GoFundMe campaign is .