After enduring over a week of tension and worry, the majority of Summerland, B.C., residents are now allowed to return to their homes. Mayor Doug Holmes expressed relief, calling it the long-awaited news for the community. The evacuation order, affecting 3,380 properties, was lifted at 7 a.m. PT on Tuesday, covering what Holmes referred to as the majority of Summerland. A smaller number of properties had their orders lifted over the past weekend.
However, 530 properties in Garnet Valley, Prairie Valley, and Meadow Valley are still under evacuation orders as of Tuesday. The rest of Summerland residents are under evacuation alerts, necessitating them to be prepared to leave at short notice. The safety clearance for these regions is pending geotechnical assessments of slope stability, with Garnet Valley currently without power.
While a boil water advisory remains due to the water treatment plant being offline during the evacuation, the community’s landfill is also ablaze, requiring waste transportation to a regional facility. Initial evaluations by the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen revealed damage to around 150 structures, with 40 within the municipal boundaries. Social support services were extended to those who suffered property loss, allowing them to inspect their homes before the order was rescinded.
Despite some containment success, the 214-square-kilometre wildfire remains uncontrolled, with firefighters focusing on the aggressive behavior on the fire’s west side. The ongoing efforts aim to maintain control lines on the southern and eastern flanks.
