B.C. fires: evacuation order lifted for Oliver properties
A handful of people living near Oliver in British Columbia's South Okanagan can return to their homes now that an evacuation order has been lifted for 27 properties.
The order forced residents near Upper Fairview Road out of their homes Sunday because of the 4,000 hectare Testalinden wildfire, but weather and the shifting path of the blaze have allowed changes.
The homes are still under evacuation alert, meaning they could be forced out of their homes on a moment's notice.
Grand Forks and Christina Lake alerts lifted
Evacuation alerts were lifted earlier today for more than thousand residents in Grand Forks and Christina Lake, which are near a raging wildfire across the border in Washington State.
A storm sweeping through the province has brought rain to the area, with more precipitation forecast for the next few days.
Residents of the two communities, which sit as close at five kilometres from the U.S. border, remain wary of the nearly 220-square-kilometre Stickpin wildfire still burning south of their homes.
They were put on evacuation alert last week, meaning they could be ordered to leave their homes at any minute, and spent days packing precious belongings and awaiting word of shifts in the wind.
The fire is now 20 per cent contained, according to the B.C. Wildfire Service, a slight improvement from a few days ago.
Winds on Saturday made fire conditions extremely dangerous, said Kootenay Regional district staff, so crews were called off until the gusts calmed.
Crews returned to work on Sunday and were hopeful they could get a good grip on the large fire, with soggier weather dampening fears of ember showers that could spark more damage.
