Okanagan businesses holding up well in the face of fires: Peachland Chamber of Commerce

PEACHLAND (NEWS 1130) – The Mt. Eneas fire near Peachland continues to grow and still has hundreds of properties under an evacuation alert in that part of the Okanagan.

Once the smoke and fire hit the news, the calls start coming in about possible cancellations to local businesses — especially those in hospitality.

“As far as the fires have impacted the Okanagan, I would say that we have been actually quite lucky, compared to some areas,” says Rocky Rocksborough-Smith, head of the Peachland Chamber of Commerce.

“Yes, we’ve been in the news and there have been five or six fires around the general Central Okanagan area,” he admits, but says he has only fielded “a few” calls from customers — mostly from Eastern Canada — concerned the fires would affect their vacations.

Rocksborough-Smith, who runs a small B&B in Peachland, says most of the time, he is able to re-assure those customers that things will be okay. “I had somebody call last night and say they’re coming and ask if it’s okay to come. I said, ‘Of course, it is. We’re doing fine.’”

“People are coming back in or staying in the Okanagan… We have had the odd cancellation, but I think when people understand what’s going on and how quickly it can change, they’re coming back and spending time in and enjoying the Okanagan the way it should be,” he explains.

He says other businesses belonging to the Chamber are having similar experiences, like Graham Todd of Todd’s RV and Campground.

“People outside of town are really concerned as to whats going on,” he says.

“[At the campground] it was really good–the smoke was fine, air quality was great, but we had quite a few people cancel their bookings. And the drive-bys, which we rely on, have dropped significantly.”

Todd adds over all they’re down about 15 per cent, but he hopes the site will get back up to normal capacity as people learn the fires aren’t affecting them that badly.

“The Okanagan is open for business…it’s good. It’s like the weather–you might have a little bit of smoke blow in for a short period of time, but it just disappears.”

He says if you were planning to visit the Okanagan, there’s no need to cancel your holiday.

-With files from Alison Bailey