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UPDATE (noon): As of noon on Wednesday, both the evacuation order and alert for the Bear Creek fire have been rescinded.
According to Central Okanagan Emergency Operations, Westside Road is now open to two-way traffic. The area is still an active work site so people are advised to use caution when driving through the fire area.
Residents from 105 properties in the Traders Cove subdivision will be heading back, and can expect to see smoke and flames.
Electrical service to the affected area has been restored, but with intermittent power outages, Interior Health is warning residents that food in a fridge or freezer may not be safe to eat.
The Emergency Support Services reception centre is now closed. The Central Okanagan Emergency Operations has compiled information for returning residents. That can be found here.
Original Story:
Some West Kelowna residents evacuated Sunday night may soon be returning to neighbourhoods that look quite a bit different thanks to a still-active wildfire.
According to Central Okanagan Emergency Operations, efforts by fire crews are progressing and they’re hoping to have residents who were evacuated because of the Bear Creek wildfire home back home by Wednesday night.
Westside Road, which has been closed to the public since about 10 p.m. on Sunday night, is expected to open for two-way traffic by early Wednesday afternoon. The area is still an active work site so people driving passed are advised to be cautious as they could come across flames or fire crews.
Nearly 160 homes were fled on Aug. 21 when flames took over the area. To date, no houses have been reported destroyed, with only some damage to outlying buildings.
The Evacuation Order is currently still in effect for about 105 properties in the Traders Cove subdivision.
Bear Creek Main Forest Service Road is still closed to all traffic except for local residents. BC Wildfire Service will allow traffic to get through once they decide it’s safe.
Bear Creek Provincial Park remains closed for now, and you can find more information on it’s status on the park’s website.
Hiking trails will stay closed while fire crews work in the area.
Over the next few days, people can expect to see visible smoke and flame from the fire site as crews attempt to completely extinguish the fire.
At last report, the wildfire was 52 hectares in size and 80 per cent contained.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.
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Bear Creek wildfire grows to 52 hectares
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Wildfire burning at Bear Creek
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