The last Lake Country residents impacted by Saturday’s wildfire are heading home.
The Okanagan Centre fire evacuation order was rescinded for 58 properties on Nighthawk, Long and Tyndall roads at 8 a.m. Wednesday.
“Residents are asked to go to www.cordemergency.ca/resources for information on what to do when returning home after a forest fire and to contact Fortis at 1-888-224-2710 to have natural gas service restored to their houses,” states Central Okanagan Emergency Operations.
The fire is 100 per cent contained but some hot spots remain and residents returning to their homes will stay on evacuation alert.
“They should be prepared to leave on short notice,” states COEO.
Ground crews will continue extinguishing spot fires and conducting danger assessments and falling trees in fire impacted areas throughout the day Wednesday.
The public must stay out of fire-affected areas for their own safety and obey all warning and hazards signs. Parks, trails and public and private lands in the area of the fire remain closed, including Jack Seaton Park and trails.
Nighthawk, Long and Tyndall Roads are open to local traffic only. Flaggers will remain in place to direct permitted traffic into the area.
The District of Lake Country has arranged a town hall meeting for residents who are returning home to the fire impacted area. The meeting will be held Thursday at 7 p.m. at Winfield Memorial Hall.
Representatives from the B.C. Wildfire Management Branch and a company that supplies fire retardant will be on hand to provide information and answer questions regarding cleanup and recovery.
