iN PHOTOS: Westside Road reopens as residents deal with the aftermath of wildfire

Most residents living along Westside Road north of West Kelowna have been allowed to return home and many have found there's nothing to return to.

The Central Okanagan emergency response centre reports 95 properties in the area have been completely or partially destroyed including 100 units at Lake Okanagan Resort.

There are still fire crews working in the area so many sections of Westside Road are single lane alternating traffic. 

Patrick Lacey came home to find his family's home destroyed by wildfire for the second time in four years, the last time was the fire in May 2019. 

“There’s nothing left but burnt metal and ash,” Lacey said.

Lacey is working to clear his property himself with the help of some organizations as well as donations from his online fundraiser.

“I’m kind of just processing it as I go, there’s not much to look at,” he said. 

Lacey said the reconstruction of his home was nearly complete when this fire destroyed it.

“My son’s been displaced since he was six and he’s about to turn eleven,” Lacey said. “We had the start of a normal life, we started putting his bunk bed together and now it’s like, ‘I guess we’re renting.’”

It took longer to get the all clear in his neighbourhood than other areas burned by the McDougall Creek wildfire, but Lacey says he is not upset by the delay in returning home.

“I’ve seen them working and I think they’re doing a great job,” he said. “Coordinating that many volunteers is a huge effort.”

Fire crews are working out of Bear Creek Provincial Park, which remains closed to the public.

BC Wildfire Service fire information officer Evan Lizotte said crews are tired after a long season but in high spirits as they work along Westside Road and Trader’s Cove.

“Things are steady as she goes,” Lizotte said. “But at this point it will take some time still.”

Lizotte was unable to give any firm timeline on when recovery operations will be complete. He asks the public to be mindful of workers when driving on Westside Road and not to fly drones around the area until their work is finished.

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