Evacuation order for 27 southern Okanagan properties after wind whips up

Dozens of Oliver area residents who were forced to evacuate their properties because of the Testalinden fire can return home.

The 37-square-kilometre Testalinden Creek fire was discovered August. 14, is 60 per cent contained and is now burning about seven kilometres south of Oliver.

An evacuation order remains in effect for 27 properties or homes along Fairview Road, Old Golf Course Road and Willowbrook Roads, as well as recreation sites at Burnell (Sawmill), Ripley and Madden Lakes.

The total number of properties or homes remaining under evacuation alert due to the Testalinden Creek Wildfire has been reduced from 285 to 180.

Fire Information Officer Heather Rice says the wildfire has moved north over the last 24 hours. “We’re quite confident in our containment lines, but it all depends how gusty the winds get”, she says.

Cameron Baughen, a regional district spokesman, said people affected by the evacuation order can report to a local community centre for emergency social services.

The BC Wildfire Service has 190 firefighters deployed fighting the blaze, including nine helicopters and 21 pieces of heavy equipment.

Smoke from the Stickpin fire in nearby Washington state has also blanketed the Okanagan Valley.

During the next few days, the area is expected to see showers and cooler temperatures of about 19 C. Rice says there is wind forecast for the region, however, it should not increase fire behaviour thanks to several days of precipitation. “That would certainly help our efforts on the fire”.