Thousands of residents in British Columbia who were forced to evacuate their homes due to wildfires are now able to return as some evacuation orders have been downgraded to alerts. In Summerland, part of the evacuation order related to the Bald Range wildfire has been changed to an evacuation alert, allowing residents from around 400 properties in the Trout Creek neighborhood to go back home.
Similarly, evacuation orders for properties in Peachland and Electoral Area West have been downgraded to alerts. The B.C. Wildfire Service reported that there are still over 100 active wildfires burning across the province. As of Friday morning, approximately 18,900 individuals were under evacuation orders, with an additional 10,000 on evacuation alert throughout B.C.
Furthermore, properties in the area of the Pear Lake wildfire, including the entirety of the Village of Clinton, were removed from the evacuation order. These areas are now under an evacuation alert, and the Thompson-Nicola Regional District announced that evacuees could start returning on Saturday morning. Clinton Mayor Roland Stanke mentioned that around 100 homes were lost due to the fire.
Residents affected by the Quilpituk wildfire, located north of Kelowna, are also being allowed to return gradually as the evacuation order has been downgraded to an alert. Approximately 2,400 households are impacted by this change. Authorities have emphasized the need for residents to inspect their properties for any damage before re-entry.
The Regional District of Central Okanagan is urging patience from evacuees of the Bald Range wildfire due to the possibility of increased fire activity. The fire covered around 198 square kilometers as of Friday noon, with concerns about potential intensification as sunlight reaches the fuel sources more directly.
Additionally, there are over 110 active wildfires in British Columbia, with the Pear Lake wildfire near Clinton being the largest at 1,574 square kilometers. Highways have been impacted by the wildfires, with Highway 97 reopening with limited hours, while other closures remain in place on Highway 1 north of Hope and Highway 97 north of Cache Creek. Air quality warnings have been issued for various regions in southern B.C., with the Fraser Valley facing a very high health risk due to wildfire smoke.
As the situation evolves, residents are advised to stay informed and follow guidance from local authorities.