The White Rock Creek wildfire near Monte Lake, Aug. 5, 2021.
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August 18, 2021 - 10:46 AM
Some Thompson-Nicola residents were allowed to return home last evening as evacuation orders for over 200 properties were downgraded to alerts.
Due to minimal growth in some areas of the White Rock Lake, Tremont Creek, Sparks Lake and Young Lake wildfires, the Thompson Nicola Regional District partially downgraded some evacuations yesterday, Aug. 17, but residents should still remain vigilant in case of flare ups.
Residents at least 45 properties in the Monte Lake and Westwold areas can return to their homes, which can be found listed on the regional district website here.
B.C. Wildfire Service is continuing mop up efforts on the northwest flanks of the White Rock Lake wildfire after controlled ignitions were completed in the area on Aug. 17.
READ MORE: Hundreds more residents on the west side of Okanagan Lake allowed to return home
Despite severe winds on Aug. 15 flaring up the wildfire near Okanagan Lake, the wildfire service saw minimal fire activity near Monte Lake and Paxton Valley. Cooler temperatures and rain helped to dampen fire activity the next day.
The Central Okanagan Regional District also downgraded some evacuation orders to alerts near Okanagan Lake, but other orders, including those within the North Okanagan and Columbia Shuswap regional districts, are still in effect.
West of Kamloops, at least 166 properties had their evacuation orders rescinded to alerts in the Cherry Creek area, according to the regional district.
As the Sparks Lake wildfire continues to see minimal activity on its southern flanks, 13 properties between Deadman River and Loon Lake have had their evacuations downgraded to alerts.
READ MORE: As smoky as it has been this summer, nothing compares to Kamloops in 2017
Lastly, three properties along the Bonaparte-Young Lake Forest Service Road had evacuation orders downgraded to alerts, which were at risk due to the Young Lake wildfire.
There are still 27 separate evacuation orders and 63 alerts within the Thompson Nicola Regional District area as of Aug. 18, related to at least nine separate wildfires.
More information on returning home safely after an evacuation is available here.
Go here to view the latest evacuation updates from the Thompson Nicola Regional District.
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