The District of Summerland in British Columbia has partially lifted an evacuation order, now issuing an alert for an area east of Highway 97 and the Trout Creek neighborhood on the west side of the highway. Highway 97 in Summerland has fully reopened for all traffic. Evacuation orders are gradually being lifted in areas near Clinton and Summerland, as reported by the B.C. Wildfire Service. The province’s southern region is still covered in smoke, expected to persist until Sunday. Unstable weather conditions could lead to more lightning-caused fires in British Columbia on Sunday.
Furthermore, Highway 97 near Cache Creek has reopened in a limited capacity after being closed for weeks due to the Pear Lake wildfire. In Summerland, more residents are being allowed to return home, but they must remain prepared to evacuate at short notice. The District of Summerland urges residents to verify if their address is within the re-entry area, as boundaries may change due to evolving ground conditions.
Summerland Mayor Doug Holmes mentioned that around 800 properties had evacuation orders downgraded on Sunday, bringing the total under evacuation alert to approximately 1,200 properties. Initially, 5,500 properties were under evacuation order when the fire started, and damage assessments have been conducted, although the exact number of properties affected is unknown.
The B.C. Wildfire Service is closely monitoring the situation, with concerns over the possibility of more lightning strikes and wildfires in the southern part of the province. The impact of smoke on health is a significant concern for firefighting crews, who are also facing challenges due to reduced visibility for aircraft operations.
Firefighting crews from New Brunswick and Quebec have been deployed to assist with the over 120 fires burning in British Columbia, most of which were sparked by lightning. Highways in the affected areas have started to reopen, including Highway 97 in the Cache Creek and Okanagan regions. However, no stopping is permitted along these routes due to ongoing wildfire activity.
The Bald Range wildfire near Summerland, covering over 210 square kilometers, remains uncontained. Highway 1 north of Hope in the Fraser Canyon is closed due to wildfires, while the Brunswick Creek wildfire complex around Boston Bar spans more than 700 square kilometers. The situation continues to be monitored closely as firefighting efforts intensify.
