Families forced to flee from the Quilpituk Creek wildfire in B.C.’s Okanagan are being allowed to return home in phases. Evacuation orders for all properties from Cinnabar Creek to Westshore Estates have been downgraded to evacuation alerts, Central Okanagan Emergency Management announced Friday morning. Evacuation alerts for properties south of Cinnabar Creek in the Wilson’s Landing area have also been lifted. The update comes after the B.C. Wildfire Service reclassified the 1,275-hectare blaze—which broke out Aug. 1 between Kelowna and Vernon—as “held,” meaning it’s projected to remain within its current boundaries. While there have been no reports of buildings destroyed by the fire, evacuees have been urged to inspect their homes and trees for potential damage before entering. “Neighbourhoods may show visible signs of wildfire impacts, including ash, soot, smoke residue and debris on properties and roadways,” COEM wrote in an online update Friday. “Residents should also be aware of damaged vegetation, burned areas and hazard trees that may pose a risk to people, vehicles and structures. Everyone is encouraged to remain alert, exercise caution when moving around their property and follow any safety directions or signage in place to support ongoing recovery efforts.” Property owners should file insurance claims if they suspect wildfire damage as soon as possible, officials said. Re-entry access has been organized in three phases Friday morning to limit traffic congestion, with residents of different areas allowed in at separate times. More details are available on the COEM website. There’s an information checkpoint at the Wilson’s Landing Fire Station, as well as an online guide for those returning home. There are currently 114 active wildfires burning across the province, including 13 that sparked within the last day. Another 56 have been declared out over the past week. The most impactful remains the massive Bald Range wildfire, which forced the evacuation of the entire community of Summerland and surrounding areas. The blaze was more recently estimated at 19,149 hectares.
