Evacuees Doug and Dennise Allan are relieved now that they can return home to Wilson Mountain, where the evacuation order has been lifted. Photo by Lyonel Doherty
The Wilson Mountain evacuation order has been lifted to the relief of many residents in the Oliver area.
Today’s press conference at the community centre confirmed that residents can return to their homes, but they are still on alert.
The evacuation order for the Testalinden fire is still in effect until further notice.
Regional district chairman Mark Pendergraft said a lot of the fuels on Wilson Mountain have burned off, allowing residents to return. A total of 260 homes were evacuated.
The Testalinden evacuation area includes 100 homes.
Noelle Kekula from the BC Wildfire Service confirmed that one home was lost on Wilson Mountain and one was affected in the Testalinden area.
No injuries were reported in either fire.
She noted that crews were making good progress on both fires, however, they are zero per cent contained.
The Wilson Mountain fire is 317 hectares and is being actioned by 23 firefighters and one helicopter. The Testalinden fire is 1,560 hectares and is being actioned by 43 firefighters and two helicopters.
Kekula noted that the fire south of Oliver was caused by lightning, but the cause of the Wilson Mountain fire is still being investigated. She said both fires will be actioned overnight if necessary.
It was not reported if power to Wilson Mountain was restored.
Emergency operations director Mark Woods reported that over 300 people have registered at the evacuation centre in the Oliver community hall.
Rob Graham, media relations officer for the Oliver Fire Department, said their main concern during the fire was people hampering their efforts by parking on Spartan Street where the blaze was threatening homes on Friday night.
“If you don’t have to be there (at a fire), please don’t be there,” Graham said.
Corporal Mike Field of the Oliver RCMP said there was no report of any property crime or looting during the fires.
Field said they had members patrolling both fires all night in order to protect property.
An emotional Ron Hovanes, mayor of Oliver, said the community has never faced a crisis of this magnitude before.
He noted that volunteers worked tirelessly through the night to help the evacuees.
“The community really came together,” he said.
He particularly thanked the firefighters who worked around the clock to save people’s homes.
“This could have been a huge, huge disaster,” Hovanes said.
Area C director Terry Schafer also praised firefighters for what they did.
“If there are 260 evacuees that can go back home, I’m thankful for that.”
Schafer said it is events like this that show what this community is made of.
In closing, Kekula urged people to be fire smart by thinning dead trees on their property and getting rid of the fuels.
“Be aware of your actions in the woods. One less human-caused fire is one less fire we have to deal with.”
By Lyonel Doherty
Oliver Fire Department spokesman Rob Graham addresses the media at a press conference today. Photo by Lyonel Doherty
