While it may be pretty to look at, the heavy snowfall that blanketed the West Shore earlier this week had some crews working overtime to keep residents safe.
Langford Fire Rescue was busy Monday and early Tuesday dealing with a number of downed power lines and motor vehicle incidents.
Of note, the department responded to four power line incidents in just over an hour Monday afternoon. The most serious of those closed Jenkins and Hull roads briefly while crews repaired the damage.
The department also responded to two motor vehicle incidents, one on Sooke Road near Humpback Road that saw a pickup truck roll over at roughly 4 p.m. on Monday. All occupants of the vehicle were out by the time crews arrived.
Langford firefighters were later called to the Malahat by West Shore RCMP after a fuel truck jack-knifed near the Goldstream Boathouse, shutting down one northbound lane for roughly an hour.
Between Feb. 1 and Tuesday morning, West Shore RCMP had received more than 43 reports of collisions, according to spokesperson Const. Alex Berube. That total doesn't include collisions not reported to police – officers need not attend if there are no injuries requiring medical attention and only minor damage has been done, he said.
The detachment receives numerous phone calls when snow falls, Berube added, and officers often have to remind residents not to phone for updates on road conditions.
For that information, Langford Fire Assistant Chief Chris Aubrey suggested residents go to DriveBC.ca or phone 1-800-550-4997. With more snow in the forecast for Wednesday night and a winter storm watch in effect, he added motorists should allow themselves extra travel time.
"It will be a wintery mix over the next 24 to 48 hours, so take a moment and prepare now for the quickly changing conditions before normal seasonal weather returns for the weekend," he said.
With more snow and freezing rain in the forecast, he noted fire crews are also concerned about trees and branches falling onto power lines. He urged West Shore residents to take advantage of the break in snowfall to get prepared in case power outages occur.
Aubrey discouraged the use of candles during outages due to the increased risk of fire and suggested LED lights and flashlights as a safe alternative. Residents should also have extra blankets ready to stay warm in the case of an extended outage. If a power line does go down, residents are asked to call 911 to report the danger.
With warmer temperatures predicted by Thursday, Aubrey warned the West Shore could be in for a rapid thaw and flooding. He noted residents should make sure perimeter and storm drains are clear of snow, ice and other debris as the snow starts to melt and the rain comes.
Sandbags are available for Langford residents and can be picked up at Millstream elementary, the Trolley Hall on Happy Valley Road, Langford Fire Rescue's station three (2872 Sooke Lake Rd.) and at Centennial Park. For more information go to cityoflangford.ca and click on "Sand and Sand Bags" under latest news. For more information on when to phone police go to bit.ly/2lla4D1.
katie@goldstreamgazette.com