Wildfire update: Summerland remains evacuated as Quilpituk residents return home

Summerland remains under evacuation order Friday as the Bald Range wildfire continues to affect thousands of properties across the Okanagan, while residents displaced by the Quilpituk Creek wildfire have begun returning home.

The latest official estimate put the Bald Range wildfire at 19,149 hectares Thursday evening, after it grew by about 700 hectares overnight. The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen's latest update said there had been no changes to evacuation orders or alerts.

Elsewhere, the Bradley Creek wildfire remains held but active, with recovery work continuing in fire-damaged areas. The Boundary has no current regional emergency activation, while the Regional District of Central Kootenay's latest wildfire bulletin reported no evacuation alerts or orders.

Summerland remains evacuated

The entire District of Summerland remains under evacuation order because of the Bald Range wildfire.

The latest RDOS figures show all 5,688 Summerland properties under order. Another 451 RDOS properties are under evacuation order and 1,073 are on alert, while Penticton Indian Band has 38 properties under order and 1,082 on alert.

RDOS confirmed at 7 p.m. Thursday that there had been no change to the evacuation areas.

There remains no announced timeline for residents to return home.

Rapid damage assessments are continuing where conditions allow, while emergency officials work on re-entry planning. Utilities, power, roads, waste disposal and other safety considerations will have to be addressed before evacuated areas can reopen.

The latest Central Okanagan Emergency Operations update estimated the Bald Range fire at 19,149 hectares Thursday evening. BC Wildfire Service advised that fire activity remained active on multiple flanks and highly influenced by weather and wind.

The fire area is under extreme drought conditions, with roughly two millimetres of rain recorded since July 1 and no measurable precipitation since Aug. 1.

Highway 97 continues to operate through Summerland on a limited schedule. Traffic is permitted from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily for through traffic only, with no stopping or exiting permitted in the affected area.

RDOS warns the highway remains within an active wildfire area and conditions can change with little or no notice.

Bradley Creek remains active despite held status

The Bradley Creek wildfire remains classified as being held, but crews continue to deal with hotspots and recovery work in the fire area.

Okanagan Indian Band reported Thursday afternoon that crews were continuing mop-up operations and danger-tree mitigation while BC Hydro worked on restoring and repairing electrical infrastructure along Westside Road. Significantly fire-damaged areas were expected to remain under evacuation order longer while that work continued.

At 4:30 p.m. Thursday, OKIB reported that a hotspot had been identified northwest of the intersection of Irish Creek Road South and Westside Road. BC Wildfire Service was notified and resources were sent to the area. Boaters were asked to stay clear while firefighting aircraft operated.

OKIB's latest update said Bradley Creek remained being held but active, and warned that spot fires could become more visible as smoke cleared.

Westside Road remains restricted through affected OKIB lands while repair and mitigation work continues. OKIB said additional evacuation-order rescinds may become possible as work progresses and conditions improve.

West Kootenays remain without evacuation orders

The Regional District of Central Kootenay's latest posted wildfire bulletin reported no evacuation alerts or orders within the regional district.

Four BC Wildfire Service area restrictions remained in place at Mount Rollins, Hope Creek, Poplar Creek and Inonoaklin Creek.

The evacuation alert associated with the Poplar Creek wildfire was rescinded Aug. 6, followed by the remaining Inonoaklin Creek alert on Aug. 7. Both fires were classified as being held in the RDCK's latest bulletin.

Recreational off-road vehicle use remains prohibited on Crown land throughout the Southeast Fire Centre because of elevated wildfire danger. The RDCK has also prohibited off-road vehicle use on the Nelson Salmo Great Northern Trail and at Glacier Creek Regional Park.

No current RDKB emergency

The Boundary remains without a regional emergency activation Friday.

The Regional District of Kootenay Boundary Emergency Operations Centre continues to report no current emergencies.

The Boundary is also within the Southeast Fire Centre and therefore remains subject to the provincial restrictions on recreational off-road vehicle use on Crown land.

Quilpituk residents return home

The strongest improvement Friday came from the Quilpituk Creek wildfire.

At 8 a.m., Central Okanagan Emergency Operations downgraded all evacuation orders between Cinnabar Creek and Westshore Estates to evacuation alerts. Evacuation alerts south of Cinnabar Creek in the Wilson's Landing area were lifted altogether.

Residents began returning in phases Friday morning.

People in Cinnabar Creek, Secret Point, Shelter Cove, Caesars Landing and Nahun were permitted to return beginning at 9 a.m. Residents of La Casa, Fintry, Upper Fintry, Shalal Road, Valley of the Sun and Ewings Landing could return beginning at 10 a.m. Re-entry for Estamont Beach, Killiney Beach and Westshore Estates began at 11 a.m.

Residents must enter from the south end of Westside Road from West Kelowna. The north end remains closed and there is no access beyond Westshore Estates. Access is restricted to local traffic.

No structural losses have been reported in the Quilpituk Creek fire area. Fire crews will remain in the area extinguishing hotspots, patrolling and monitoring conditions, and residents may continue to see smoke from burned areas.

The wildfire was declared held Thursday, meaning BC Wildfire Service expects it to remain within its current boundary under the anticipated fuel and weather conditions and with the resources assigned to it.

Residents whose evacuation orders have been downgraded remain on alert and should be prepared to leave again if conditions change.