Thousands of B.C. residents who were displaced by wildfires are being allowed to return home as some evacuation orders have been reduced to alerts.
In Summerland, a portion of the evacuation order related to the Bald Range wildfire has been downgraded to an alert, permitting residents from around 400 properties in the Trout Creek neighborhood east of Highway 97 to go back home.
Similarly, evacuation orders for all properties in the Peachland and Electoral Area West regions have been adjusted to alerts, according to Central Okanagan Emergency Management.
Over 400 properties near the Pear Lake wildfire, including the entire Village of Clinton, were also removed from the evacuation order, with evacuees set to return under an alert status starting Saturday.
In another development, evacuation orders for properties from Cinnabar Creek to Westshore Estates near the Quilpituk Creek wildfire have been switched to an evacuation alert.
The B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS) has reported that more than 100 wildfires are currently active across the province. As of Friday morning, about 18,900 individuals were under evacuation orders, with an additional 10,000 on evacuation alert throughout B.C.
Residents are advised to assess their properties and trees for any damage before re-entering. Authorities recommend disposing of fridge and freezer contents and following guidelines for waste disposal provided in the re-entry guide.
No structural damage has been reported, and the Quilpituk Creek fire has been contained after being previously classified as out-of-control.
The Regional District of Central Okanagan is urging patience from evacuees of the Bald Range wildfire, which covers a substantial area and may see heightened fire activity due to increased sunlight exposure.
Highway 97 has reopened with limited daytime hours, although conditions are subject to change, and stopping is prohibited. Air quality warnings are in effect for several areas in southern B.C., with a very high health risk due to wildfire smoke.
Highway closures north of Hope and Cache Creek remain in place, but Highway 97 is set to fully reopen by noon on Saturday, as per the Thompson-Nicola Regional District.