Sanding icy Westside

Photo: Christine Meunier

A sanding truck was out on the streets of West Shore Estates Sunday, to the relief of residents.

Sanding trucks have been spotted on the west side of Okanagan Lake where frustrated residents have been complaining about icy conditions following last Thursday's dump of snow.

“I've had 30 or 40 phone calls and people are furious,” said North Westside Fire Rescue Fire Chief Jason Satterthwaite said on Sunday.

While the fire department is not responsible for the state of the roads, Satterthwaite said he had twice called the company responsible for the plowing.

Satterthwaite said a driver who went off the road this morning stated he had winter tires on his vehicle but “had absolutely no control.”

North Westside fire crews have been out three times in three days to single vehicle accidents at La Casa at Fintry after drivers spun off of the road.

“Some didn't have winter tires on but others were due to the lack of snow removal.”

Westside Road itself was cleared following Thursday's dump of snow but Satterthwaite said a number of subdivisions were still waiting Sunday for road clearing, including West Shore Estates, Killiney Beach, Valley of the Sun, Eastmont Beach and Fintry.

Thankfully, a sanding truck was spotted on the streets of West Shore Sunday.

“It's been extremely frustrating,” said a woman who lives in West Shore Estates. “It's been sheer ice.”

The woman, who did not want her name used, said she planned to take her two children out on Saturday but changed her mind due to the state of the roads.

“I'm not going to put my children's lives in danger. I couldn't imagine going down the hill. It's nuts.”