All evacuations lifted

Photo: Madison Erhardt

The Lake Country fire is 100 per cent contained.

All evacuation orders have now been lifted for 58 properties within the Okanagan Centre Wildfire.

This includes all properties on Nighthawk, Long and Tyndall roads.

The orders were rescinded as of 8 a.m. this morning.

Residents returning home are asked to visit the regional district emergency website for information on what to do when returning home from a wildfire. Residents should also contact FortisBC at 1-888-224-2710 to have natural gas service restored.

The fire is now 100 per cent contained, however, some hot spots do remain within the fire area, meaning all residents returning do remain on evacuation alert and should be prepared to leave again at a moments notice.

Ground crews remain in the area, putting out hot spots and conducting danger assessments and falling trees within the fire area.

Parks, trails, public and private lands within the fire area remain closed, including Jack Seaton Park and trails.

Nighthawk, Long and Tyndall roads are open to local traffic only.

A meeting for those residents returning home to the impacted area is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday at Winfield Memorial Hall.

Representatives from BC Wildfire, and a company that supplies fire retardant will be on hand to answer questions, and provide information on cleanup and recovery.

Residents returning home should be aware that structures and vehicles may have sustained damage from smoke, water and retardant.

When returning home, watch for:

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