UPDATE:
- The evacuation order for the District of Summerland has been partially lifted, now reduced to an alert for an 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 major fires in British Columbia, such as those near Clinton and Summerland.
- The B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS) predicts that smoke covering the southern region of the province will persist until Sunday.
- An unsettled weather system may trigger more lightning-induced fires in British Columbia on Sunday, as stated by a fire information officer.
- Highway 97 near Cache Creek reopened in a limited capacity on Saturday following an extended closure due to the Pear Lake wildfire.
More Summerland, B.C., residents are allowed to return home as the District of Summerland downgrades the evacuation order to an alert for an area east of Highway 97 and the Trout Creek neighborhood on the west side of Highway 97.
Residents can return home but must remain prepared to evacuate if necessary. The district advises residents to check if their address falls within the re-entry area as boundaries may change due to evolving ground conditions.
Summerland Mayor Doug Holmes reported that 800 additional properties had their evacuation orders downgraded, bringing the total under evacuation alert to about 1,200 properties.
Initially, 5,500 properties were under evacuation order when the fire broke out. Damage assessments have been completed, but the exact number of properties destroyed is unknown.
Summerland Mayor Doug Holmes at a wildfire evacuation center in Penticton, B.C., on August 8. Holmes mentioned that 5,500 properties were initially under evacuation order due to the fire. (Ben Nelms/CBC)
Holmes expressed optimism regarding the downgraded evacuation orders, stating, “We’ll see how today goes. And then tomorrow look at … when can we bring more people,” with hopes of increasing the number each time.
On Sunday, Highway 97 passing through Summerland was fully reopened after being closed due to the wildfire.
Officials emphasized that the reopening is subject to fire behavior and the changing needs of BCWS crews.
Smoke Impact
BCWS is monitoring an unstable weather pattern that could lead to more lightning strikes and wildfires in the southern part of the province on Sunday.
Despite the slow lifting of evacuation orders near critical fires in the province, with <a class="link-_o8iA html-anchor" href="https://www.cbc.ca
