Landslide forces evacuation of homes in Orlans

Heavy rains and a generally wet spring are being blamed for a landslide along BilberryCreek in Orlans, which has forced the evacuation of three houses for what could be a month or more.

The City of Ottawa, whichownsand oversees the Bilberry Creek greenspace, said Thursdayit has ordered the occupants ofthree houses on Turnberry Roadto vacate their homes while urgent work is undertaken to stabilize and repair slopes along the creek.

The erosion and landslides started in mid-April and worsened bythe end of the month as more rainsoaked the clay soil.

By Thursday, parts of Bilberry Creek were unrecognizable after beingcovered in earth and large trees thattoppled down from the slopes.

While no homes in the neighbourhood have been damaged, the landslides happened justmetres from the backyard property lines of three homes.

Crews were busy Wednesday cutting trees in thegreenspacein an effort to limit any further landslides.

Homes not in immediate danger

Fencing has been installed around the perimeter of the two-storey detached homes, andsecurity guardensured no one ventured onto the properties.

Alain Gonthier, the city's director of infrastructure, saidthe houses themselves are not in anyimmediate danger, given the safe distance between the ravine and the foundations.

"Until we can effect the repairs, we felt that it was prudent to have them vacate the properties until the work is completed, and then they will be able to go back into their homes," said Gonthier.

It's not clear when the families will be allowed to move back in.

"We're still trying to access the most appropriate solution," said Gonthier. "At this point we're talking about, probably, at least a month. It could be a bit more depending on the extent of the repairs that are going to be required."

The Red Cross is assisting the displaced families, and according to neighboursall three families have been able to find temporary housing.

Geotechnical firm monitoring

Ageotechnical firm continues to monitor the situationand so far there's nothing to indicate more houses need to be evacuated,Gonthieradded.

"At this point, I don't think that other properties should be concerned. If there are concerns that continue to develop, we willcertainly continue to keep the community engaged."

Neighbour Laval Grimard has lived on Turnberry since 1989, when he purchased a new house that also backs onto the ravine. He said Thursday this is the first time soil erosion has caused concern.

"Currently I'm crossing my fingers, and mostly for myneighbours, hoping they'll be all right," said Grimard.

Grimard describedthe wooded area and network of trails behind his home as a little paradiseoffering some forest experience in the city.

"We hope the city will be able to salvage as much as they can, and most of all, for thelong term, is that our houses won't be at risk," said Grimard.

Turnberry homeowner Suzanne Roy has been walkingthe trails along Bilberry Creek for the past 25years.

"It was the nicest ravine ever. I didn't have to go to Gatineau Park," said Roy. "I used to do my Tai Chi over there, there'snice bridges ... I don't know what I'm going to do. They better bring it back."