UPDATE:
- The evacuation order for the District of Summerland has been partially lifted to an alert for the area east of Highway 97 and the Trout Creek neighborhood west of Highway 97.
- Highway 97 in Summerland is now fully open to all traffic.
- Evacuation orders are gradually being lifted for some of the most concerning wildfires in British Columbia, including those near Clinton and Summerland.
- The B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS) anticipates that the smoke covering southern British Columbia will persist through Sunday.
- An unstable weather system may lead to additional lightning-caused fires in British Columbia on Sunday, as stated by a fire information officer.
- On Saturday, Highway 97 near Cache Creek reopened in a limited capacity following weeks of closure due to the Pear Lake wildfire.
More residents from Summerland, British Columbia, are permitted to return home on Sunday after the District of Summerland announced the partial lifting of the evacuation order to an alert for the area east of Highway 97 and the Trout Creek neighborhood west of Highway 97.
Residents can now return home but must remain prepared to evacuate at short notice. The district advises residents to verify if their address falls within the re-entry area, as boundaries are subject to change based on evolving ground conditions.
Summerland Mayor Doug Holmes disclosed that an additional 800 properties had evacuation orders downgraded on Sunday, bringing the total under evacuation alert to about 1,200 properties.
Initially, 5,500 properties in the district were issued evacuation orders when the fire started. Although damage assessments have been conducted, the exact number of properties destroyed by the fire is unknown.
“We will assess today’s situation and then consider when more people can be allowed back,” Holmes commented on the downgraded evacuation orders.
“Hopefully, we can increase the number each time. That is the objective.”
<span class="mediaCaption-A