UPDATE:
- Residents of Summerland are allowed to return home as part of the evacuation order being changed to an evacuation alert.
- Several properties, including the entire Village of Clinton, have been removed from the evacuation order in the Pear Lake wildfire area.
- The Peachland and Electoral Area West properties that were under evacuation orders have now been placed on evacuation alerts.
- Evacuation orders near the Quilpituk Creek wildfire have been reduced to an evacuation alert for properties from Cinnabar Creek to Westshore Estates.
- The B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS) reports more than 100 active wildfires across the province.
- Approximately 18,900 individuals are under evacuation orders, with an additional 10,000 on evacuation alert in B.C. as of Friday morning.
Return of Evacuees
Residents evacuated due to wildfires in B.C. are being allowed to return as some evacuation orders have been downgraded to alerts.
Summerland, near the Bald Range wildfire, has changed part of its evacuation order to an evacuation alert, permitting residents of about 400 properties in the Trout Creek neighborhood to return home.
On Friday evening, evacuation orders for all properties in Peachland and Electoral Area West were also downgraded to alerts, as reported by Central Okanagan Emergency Management.
Over 400 properties in the Pear Lake wildfire area, including the Village of Clinton, have been removed from the evacuation order and are now under an evacuation alert.
The Thompson-Nicola Regional District (TNRD) announced that evacuees can start returning to the area from early Saturday morning.
Mayor Roland Stanke of Clinton mentioned that around 100 homes were lost due to the fire, urging returning residents to be prepared for the changed landscape.
Evacuees from the Quilpituk wildfire will also be allowed to return under a staged re-entry plan, affecting approximately 2,400 households.
The evacuation alert in the area has been lifted as well.
Central Okanagan Emergency Management emphasized the need for residents to inspect their properties and surrounding trees for any damage before re-entry.
According to the emergency management website, no structural losses have been reported.
The Quilpituk Creek fire was contained on Thursday after being classified as out-of-control.
Patience Required Near Bald Range Fire
The Regional District of Central Okanagan (RDCO) is requesting patience from residents affected by the Bald Range wildfire.
The fire, covering 198 square kilometers as of Friday noon, may exhibit increased activity due to clearer skies allowing more direct sunlight to reach fuels, potentially intensifying the fire, including the risk of tree crown involvement.
