Updated 1 p.m. Monday, Aug. 24
The evacuation alert for 3,669 properties in southeast end of Penticton was lifted Monday morning, but evacuation orders and alerts in the Heritage Hills and Upper Carmi areas are remaining in place until later this week due to the still-active Christie Mountain wildfire.
Effective at 10:30 a.m. Monday, the the City of Penticton announced the evacuation alert issued for all 3,669 properties issued five days prior has been lifted.
A press conference was held at noon Monday with the City of Penticton and the regional district where it was announced the 319 properties in the Heritage Hills remain under evacuation order and and 116 homes in the Upper Carmi area remain on alert.
“BC Wildfire has not released the area to the RDOS at this time. There is still some fire activity, but we are hearing no major flare ups overnight and I believe the cooler temperatures are certainly aiding in the fight,” said Karla Kozakevich, RDOS board chair at the Monday press conference.
Kozakevich said she could not confirm when the order would be lifted but did state “it will not be today.”
“We are hoping that in the next couple days we will be able to get people moving back into their homes, so definitely this week, but I don’t want to promise it will be tomorrow,” Kozakevich said.
Advance planning is underway for homeowners return to the area in a phased-in approach, Kozakevich said, including geotechnical assessments of slope stability, retaining walls and possible damage to power lines and utilities which needs to be investigated before residents can return.
“I understand this is a very stressful and difficult time for those of you that are on alert and in particular for those who have been ordered out of their homes. The professionals and out volunteers understand this as well,” Kozakevich said, asking for patience from those who have been displaced.
There were still helicopters bucketing water on the active wildfire which had visible smoke coming from the hillside Monday morning.
A staged re-entry is planned for those still under an evacuation order in the Heritage Hills area where residents will return to their properties in grouped by addresses over the course of a day. Kozakevich said she is “hopeful” those residents will hear more from officials tomorrow or Wednesday, Aug. 26.
Penticton Mayor John Vassilaki — who himself was under evacuation alert until this morning — was proud of the efforts of everyone in the city and across the province, from volunteers to firefighters to the media.
“While this last week was full of worry, today I’m full of immense pride,” said Penticton Mayor John Vassilaki, thanking BC Wildfire, local and provincial firefighters, Emergency Support Services volunteers, Search and Rescue volunteers, city officials and everyone who played a role during the height of the wildfire.
Penticton Fire Chief Larry Watkinson said the threat to homes was “limited” Sunday night. Hundreds of firefighters who showed up from across the province to hold the line returned to their home communities Saturday. Gusting winds over 50 km/h did not increase fire activity towards the city boundaries Friday as feared.
Structural protection crews were in the evacuation alert area preparing homes and critical infrastructure for a worst-case scenario late last week, using “wetlines” and an elaborate sprinkler system to keep burning embers from blowing into residential neighbourhoods. One single home was lost in the Heritage Hills area.
The Christie Mountain wildfire is still estimated at 2,035.0 ha, or 20 square kilometres, as of Monday morning.
