Thousands of Summerland residents can now return home as evacuation orders have been partly lifted to evacuation alerts. The Pear Lake wildfire area saw hundreds of properties removed from evacuation orders, including the entire Village of Clinton. Additionally, evacuation orders in Peachland and Electoral Area West were downgraded to alerts. Near the Quilpituk Creek wildfire, properties from Cinnabar Creek to Westshore Estates are now under an evacuation alert instead of an order.
The B.C. Wildfire Service reported over 100 active wildfires in the province, affecting approximately 18,900 individuals under evacuation orders and around 10,000 more under evacuation alerts.
Summerland residents affected by the Bald Range wildfire are among those allowed to return home, with the District of Summerland lifting part of its evacuation order for the Trout Creek neighborhood. Similarly, properties in Peachland and Electoral Area West were moved from evacuation orders to alerts.
Evacuees from the Pear Lake wildfire area, which includes the Village of Clinton, will return under an evacuation alert. The Thompson-Nicola Regional District announced a phased return beginning Saturday morning.
Residents affected by the Quilpituk Creek wildfire near Kelowna are also being allowed to return as the evacuation order has been downgraded to an alert, affecting around 2,400 households.
Authorities urge returning residents to inspect their properties before moving back in and dispose of perishable items from their fridges. No structural damage has been reported in the area. The Quilpituk Creek fire was contained on Thursday.
The Regional District of Central Okanagan is advising patience to those affected by the Bald Range wildfire, which covers a significant area and could see increased fire activity due to sunlight exposure.
As of Friday afternoon, over 110 wildfires are active in B.C., with the Pear Lake wildfire near Clinton being the largest at 1,574 square kilometers. The Brunswick Creek fire complex near Boston Bar covers over 700 square kilometers.
Highway 97 has reopened with limited hours, and air quality warnings are in place across southern B.C. due to wildfire smoke. Some highway closures remain in effect, but the TNRD announced the full reopening of Highway 97 in the Clinton area on Saturday.
The Fraser Valley is under an orange air quality warning, indicating a very high health risk due to smoke from wildfires.