Only one home still on evacuation order due to West Kelowna wildfire

Even though the McDougall Creek wildfire that tore through the West Kelowna area a month ago is still burning, all but one property owner is free to return home.

Evacuation orders were lifted yesterday, Sept. 21, for every property other than one at 550 Westside Road.

Evacuation alerts have also been removed from all properties except those accessed from Bear Creek, Petterson and Rose Valley roads and those from 539 to 1111 Westside Road.

Emergency services still has not published a list of the total number of homes destroyed, only that 189 properties had damage. That included Lake Okanagan Resort which has multiple dwellings, and Camp OAC.

The McDougall Creek wildfire burned a 13,970 hectare area doing most of its damage on Aug. 17 and 18. It's now classified as being held.

READ MORE: West Kelowna fire chief takes the FireSmart message to the UN

“While holding the fire is an important milestone, there's still much work ahead for crews and partner agencies,” the BC Wildfire Service said in a Facebook post yesterday. “Multiple hazards are still present in areas where firefighters are working or where fire damage has occurred. An area restriction order prohibiting most public access remains in place.”

The Glen Lake wildfire is still burning out of control six kilometres west of Peachland. It has burned 1,116 ha so far. Eight recreational properties are still on evacuation order and most properties west of Highway 97 from the Okanagan Connector to Summerland remain on evacuation alert.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Rob Munro or call 250-808-0143 or email the editor. You can also submitphotos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. SUBSCRIBE to our awesome newsletter here.