West Kelowna wildfire: Evacuation order rescinded for 2,200

The Smith Creek wildfire is roughly 50 per cent contained, and approximately 2,200 people are being allowed to go back to their homes in West Kelowna, B.C., Sunday.

Hundreds still out of their homes, but 260-hectare fire now roughly 50% contained

Rhiannon Coppin · CBC News · Posted: Jul 20, 2014 4:16 PM EDT | Last Updated: July 21, 2014

Things are looking up in West Kelowna

10 years ago

3:00

The danger remains high, but a majority of residents forced out have been allowed to go home

The Smith Creek wildfire is roughly 50-per-cent contained, and approximately 2,200 people are being allowed to go back to their homes in West Kelowna, B.C., as of Sunday afternoon.

At 11 a.m. PT , the Central Okanagan Emergency Operation Centre announced the evacuation order that had forced 2,500 people from their homes earlier this week had been partially rescinded for 1,900 people. Later in the day, even more people were allowed to return home.

PHOTOS | West Kelowna wildfire crews exhausted, but optimistic

Out of 1,128 homes evacuated Thursday, 1,050 are now believed to be free of immediate threat and residents are allowed to return to them. An evacuation order remains in effect for the homes closest to the fire, which affects approximately 300 people.

Those going home are asked to be cautious and to watch out for:

Charred power poles or trees, which may be unstable and could fall.
Live power lines on the ground.
Small fires that may flare up without warning.
Ash pits, which are holes filled with hot ash created by burned trees.

Police will be in the area to enforce order and maintain roadblocks in off-limits neighbourhoods.

The emergency operations centre also said everyone remains on evacuation alert, and should be ready to leave again at a moment's notice.

The Smith Creek wildfire, part of which is shown here in a photo taken Saturday, was 260 hectares in size and 50 per cent contained Sunday morning. (CBC)

Jason Luciw, of the Central Okanagan Emergency Operation Centre, said the fire is still not fully contained, and a change in the weather could quickly change the situation on the ground.

"The first thing that we want to let people know is that this remains an active fire," he said. "For example, wind is still in the forecast, and therefore those people living in the immediate interface area... remain under evacuation order."

The evacuee reception centre is being maintained at Mount Boucherie Senior Secondary School, where residents under evacuation order can seek food and vouchers for hotels and motels.

The B.C. Wildfire Management Branch says the Smith Creek fire is roughly 260 hectares in size, and that fires inside the perimeter will keep burning and will be visible for several weeks.

"Residents are asked if they see any fire activity related to the Smith Creek fire, not to call 911 as crews will still be actively working in the area and monitoring the situation," the Central Okanagan Emergency Operation Centre said.