Wildfires in British Columbia: evacuation orders lifted in Keremeos

Local authorities in the Okanagan region of British Columbia said all evacuation orders around the so-called Keremeos Creek wildfire near Penticton have been rescinded.

Erick Thompson, information officer for the Okanagan-Similkameen Regional District, says that means residents of the last 25 households still displaced by the fire have been given the go-ahead to return home.

He says some properties remain on evacuation alert due to the wildfire, which is still active.

The fire is one of five classified as « notable wildfires » by the BC Wildfire Service and has charred more than 69 square kilometers.

Hugh Murdoch, incident commander for the Forest Fire Service, said while the fire will continue to burn, it currently poses no threat to homes and is « very comfortable » with crews and resources in place.

The Keremeos Creek fire was discovered on July 29 and forced the evacuation of more than 500 homes in the area, with the wildfire department saying its cause remains under investigation.

This report from The Canadian Press was first published on August 17, 2022.