B.C. Wildfire Evacuees Return Home as Orders Lifted

Residents in several parts of British Columbia are being allowed to return home as evacuation orders are downgraded, though officials warn that wildfire threats persist and communities face significant disruptions. The changes come as the province continues to battle multiple large blazes, including the Bald Range fire near Summerland and the Pear Lake fire in the south Cariboo region.

In the south Okanagan, the District of Summerland rescinded evacuation orders for approximately 400 properties in the Trout Creek area east of Highway 97 on Friday evening. The Central Okanagan Regional District also lifted orders for properties in Peachland at 6 p.m. on Friday. All affected residents are now under evacuation alerts. This follows the declaration on Thursday that the Quilpituk Creek fire, which has been burning since August 1 on the western shores of Okanagan Lake, is held. The Central Okanagan Regional District had already allowed more than 2,600 properties to return home on Friday after that fire was contained.

However, thousands of other properties in Summerland and the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen remain under evacuation orders due to the Bald Range fire. This...