More wildfire evacuation orders in Kelowna area to lift; favourable weather conditions continue

The Central Okanagan Emergency Operations Centre says it has lifted a number of evacuation orders throughout the region as more residents return home.

The regional district says it has lifted orders for a number of communities in West Kelowna, Westbank First Nation, and the District of Lake Country.

Providing an update Saturday, West Kelowna Mayor Gord Milsom says the past few days have been “very difficult and traumatic times for our community.”

“However, I’m pleased to say that there have been some really positive developments. … Many of our residents on the greater west side have been able to return home. To those still on evacuation order, thank you for your continued patience and understanding as you wait for notification that you can also return home.”

Related Articles:

• Restrictions in place near West Kelowna for McDougall Creek wildfire suppression

• Feds pledge further support to help fight B.C. wildfires

• Metro Vancouver issues air quality advisory

  ---

Milsom adds that as of Monday, Aug. 28, some West Kelowna facilities, such as indoor recreation, will reopen to the public.

“Tourists are welcome once again to safe areas of West Kelowna. I wish to thank Minister (Bowinn) Ma and the province for lifting the travel restrictions for (the) purpose of staying in temporary accommodations for our community. Accommodations are secured for our evacuees and frontline workers,” he said.

Milsom also extends his gratitude to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who visited the devastated region Friday.

“I’m really grateful to the prime minister for taking a significant amount of time to speak one-on-one with our firefighters,” he said.

Lake Country Mayor Blair Ireland explains that all properties in the Lake Country area will be downgraded from an evacuation order to an alert by Saturday afternoon.

However, he says residents must wait until it has been officially announced.

“There’s a lot of clean-up going on out there. There’s still dangers — trees. People must remember (the) fire’s being held. The fire is not out.”

Ireland expects alerts to remain in place over the weekend, and is reminding residents to continue to be vigilant and not to enter into the “burnt areas.”

“There’s a want to have a look around the neighbourhood and see what’s going on. But please don’t go into those burnt areas. The fire is still burning. It’s not safe there.”

Fire Information Officer Brad Litke says more than 200 firefighters and personnel are working on the Grouse fire complex Saturday — “a bit of a downgrade from the previous report.”

However, Litke says more resources are on the way, with 15 aircraft and 39 pieces of heavy equipment working to contain the blaze.

While the weather has been favourable the past few days, Litke says with a rise in temperatures and lower relative humidity through the weekend, “we’re expecting to see an increase in fire behavior, specifically to the McDougall Creek Fire currently listed as out of control.”

The McDougall Creek wildfire has burned about 123 square kilometres of land since being discovered on Aug. 15 and forced thousands of residents in the Kelowna area to flee their homes earlier this month.

West Kelowna Fire Chief Jason Brolund says Saturday is “starting to become all about emotions. I know that you’re feeling them out there.”

“My people and even myself are also feeling the same ones. You know, we are gutted by the losses as we continue to see them. In many cases, my people share the same joy in returning to their homes that you do in the last 24 hours. Also, some of us also continue to share with you the frustration in waiting,” he said.

Although Brolund says he and his crews are beginning to sigh with relief as “things are going very well,” he also explains they’re acting cautiously.

“We have faced a wildfire of historical proportions. Our community in many cases has been devastated. … I’m cautious though because this could change quickly. We know the temperatures are going to warm up this weekend. We’re not letting our guard down.”

–With files from The Canadian Press