B.C. land and wildlife experts warn recovery from increasingly intense wildfires can take years, requiring extensive restoration, funding and forest management.
An off-road vehicle prohibition on Crown land throughout the Southeast Fire Centre was lifted at noon Friday as recent rainfall reduced the wildfire risk.
According to Grand Forks Fire Rescue, their crews were called around 6:45 p.m. Wednesday to a wildfire at Gilpin Forest Service Road and Highway 3 that measured about 100 by 500 feet (30 by 150 meters).
Summerland expects to downgrade its final evacuation orders Friday, allowing residents of about 80 properties to return to a wildfire-damaged area where electricity may not be fully restored until Wednesday, chief administrative officer Graham Statt said.
About 450 properties in the District of Summerland could be cleared for re-entry Thursday afternoon as officials prepare to downgrade evacuation orders across much of the community.
The theft of critical suppression equipment, including pumps, is hampering crews at the Bald Range wildfire near Summerland, the B.C. Wildfire Service said Wednesday.
The majority of Summerland residents are able to return home after an evacuation order was lifted, but it's still unclear how many homes may have been lost to the Bald Range wildfire.
