Smoke and fire retardant is seen in Okanagan Centre in Lake Country, B.C., Sunday, July 16, 2017.
Image Credit: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
July 18, 2017 - 10:18 AM
LAKE COUNTRY – Calm winds, slightly cooler temperatures and efforts by fire crews have contributed to getting 80 per cent containment on the Okanagan Centre wildfire this morning.
Containment expanded from 75 per cent yesterday, however ground crews will continue putting out spot fires and assessing danger from burned trees today, July 18.
A media release from the Emergency Operations Centre says residents will be allowed home “as soon as it is safe to remove the evacuation order.”
An evacuation order remains in place for 58 properties along Nighthawk Road, Long Road and Tyndall Road from south of 10810 to the end of the pavement. Jack Seaton Park and trails remain closed.
“RCMP are maintaining road blocks in the evacuated area and are conducting ongoing roaming patrols,” officials say in the release. “Members of the public are asked to stay away from evacuated areas to aid in the emergency response and avoid hazards created by the fire. RCMP have indicated zero tolerance for people accessing closed areas.”
Check out the Central Okanagan Regional District map and search by address to determine if an area or street is under evacuation order.
For the very latest information go to the Central Okanagan Emergency Operations website.
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News from © iNFOnews, 2017