Finlay Creek fire in the distance.

(MARSHALL JONES / iNFOnews.ca)

SUMMERLAND - The Finlay Creek wildfire is no longer threatening homes in the Garnet Valley Lake area because it is 50 per cent contained.

Last night, Sept. 9, the B.C. Wildfire Service had crews from B.C., Ontario and Quebec fighting the Finlay Creek fire. Crews had support from equipment, helicopters and an incident management team, according to the release issued today, Sept. 10, by the District of Summerland Chief Administrative Officer Linda Tynan.

"Because of the controlled burn, we are fairly confident things should hold despite gusty winds," B.C. Wildfire Communications Officer Heather Rice said yesterday.

Going into the evening the Finlay Creek Wildfire is fire is still 50 per cent contained. 

B.C. Wildfire Communications Officer Heather Rice says, "The Finlay Creek fire is 2,228 hectares."

A crew of 116 personnel, including out of province firefighters from Ontario and Quebec are still on scene, however, they are reducing their number of heavy equipment and helicopters.

"We are reducing our numbers, tonight there will be 1 helicopter and 13 pieces of heavy equipment," says Rice. 

Updated site map.

Image Credit: SUBMITTED/Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen

The evacuation orders issued Sept. 3 and Sept. 4 for the Garnet Lake area, located within the Municipality of the District of Summerland, have been rescinded.

The following two properties are no longer under Evacuation Order:

• 35888 Garnet Valley Road
• 951 Meadow Valley Road

Both properties will remain under an Evacuation Alert until further notice.

Work on the Summerland’s Garnet Valley Water Separation project will resume Monday morning. Work schedules will be modified to ensure that alternating traffic is allowed through the area and that work can be stopped very quickly should wildfire conditions suddenly change, according to the District of Summerland release. When the fire was discovered and the community threatened, work was stopped, however, increased stability will allow the work to resume so it can be completed this fall.

The B.C. Wildfire Service would like people to know that there is still an area restriction in place. Local residents can use the roads, however, certain streets like Fish Lake Rd. are closed to the general public, according to Rice.

Questions regarding the effect of the Finlay Creek wildfire within municipal boundaries may be directed to Summerland’s Wildfire Information line at 250-486-3765.

— This story was updated at 4:09 p.m. Sept. 10, 2017 to add new information from the B.C. Wildfire Service.

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