Peachland Fire Evacuees Return Home

CP | By The Canadian Press Posted: 09/12/2012 2:09 pm Updated: 09/13/2012 11:32 am

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PEACHLAND, B.C. - The last of the evacuees from a forest fire that tore through parts of Peachland, B.C., destroying four houses, were given the all-clear to return to their homes Wednesday, three days after they were forced to flee.

The number of evacuees had been steadily decreasing, from 1,550 on Sunday in the hours after the fire broke out to 258 by Wednesday morning.

Those remaining evacuees, who live in the worst-hit areas of Peachland along the northern edge of the community, were permitted to return as of 5 p.m. Wednesday, the Regional District of Central Okanagan said in an news release.

The fire started Sunday afternoon in a ditch near a park just outside Peachland and quickly spread in high winds.

The fire moved three kilometres in a little more than an hour, eventually covering two square kilometres. Three homes and an abandoned house were destroyed, and the RCMP facilitated efforts to shuttle horses away from ranches in the path of the fire.

There were no injuries, among either people or animals, officials have said.

The regional district said crews were still working to target hot spots in the fire, which was considered 85 per cent contained as of Wednesday morning.

While the evacuation orders have been rescinded, the 1,550 who were ordered to leave are now on an evacuation alert, meaning they should be prepared to leave at a moment's notice.

The Central Okanagan Regional District warned residents to be cautious of hazardous conditions, such as brittle trees that can fall silently or what are known as "easy bake ovens" — underground burning root structures that can be extremely hot and unstable.

Air tankers fighting the fire dropped fire retardant to stop the fire's spread, and some homes and properties were covered in the red substance. One Peachland woman said she was in her garage when her house and yard was splashed with fire retardant.

The regional district said homeowners whose properties were covered in fire retardant should call the local office of ICL Performance Products, which specializes in fire retardant.

Investigators have not yet said what may have caused the fire.

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Six-year-old Peachland wildfire evacuee Azaneth Mejia waits outside an evacuation centre with family friend Carmon Gorzynski in West Kelowna, B.C., on Monday September 10, 2012. One millimetre of rain and calmer winds overnight brought a small amount of relief to fire crews and about 1,500 residents who were quickly evacuated from their homes Sunday in the face of a raging wildfire in Peachland.
Fire investigators examine an area where they believe a wildfire started in Peachland, B.C., on Tuesday September 11, 2012. Forestry officials say the fire is 75% contained but 258 people are still not allowed to return home. An evacuation order was lifted for part of the area late Monday allowing approximately 1,100 people to return home.
A home destroyed by wildfire is seen next to another home not damaged in Peachland, B.C., on Monday September 10, 2012.
Forest Protection Officer Jim Mottishaw talks about a property that was destroyed by a wildfire in Peachland, B.C., on Monday September 10, 2012.
A wildfire burns in Peachland, B.C. on September 11, 2012. Officials report the fire is 75 per cent contained and the evacuation order has been rescinded.
A wildfire burns in Peachland, B.C. on September 11, 2012. Officials report the fire is 75 per cent contained and the evacuation order has been rescinded.
A wildfire burns in Peachland, B.C. on September 11, 2012. Officials report the fire is 75 per cent contained and the evacuation order has been rescinded.
A helicopter drops water on a wildfire in Peachland, B.C., on Monday September 10, 2012. One millimetre of rain and calmer winds overnight brought a small amount of relief to fire crews and about 1,500 residents who were quickly evacuated from their homes Sunday in the face of a raging wildfire in Peachland.
A helicopter drops water on a wildfire in Peachland, B.C., on Monday September 10, 2012. One millimetre of rain and calmer winds overnight brought a small amount of relief to fire crews and about 1,500 residents who were quickly evacuated from their homes Sunday in the face of a raging wildfire in Peachland.
A helicopter draws water from Lake Okanagan while battling a wildfire in Peachland, B.C., on Monday September 10, 2012.
A wild fire burns out of control on highway 97C near Peachland, B.C. on Sunday September 9, 2012.Authorities have ordered the evacuation of about a thousand people from the path of a wildfire raging near Peachland, B.C.
People watch smoke from a fire near Peachland, B.C. as they sit on Gyro beach in Kelowna on Sunday September 9, 2012. Authorities have ordered the evacuation of about a thousand people from the path of a wildfire raging near Peachland, B.C.
A wild fire burns out of control along highway 97C near Peachland, B.C. on Sunday September 9, 2012. Authorities have ordered the evacuation of about a thousand people from the path of a wildfire raging near Peachland, B.C.
A wild fire burns out of control along highway 97C near Peachland, B.C. on Sunday September 9, 2012. Authorities have ordered the evacuation of about a thousand people from the path of a wildfire raging near Peachland, B.C.
A wild fire burns out of control along highway 97C near Peachland, B.C. on Sunday September 9, 2012. Authorities have ordered the evacuation of about a thousand people from the path of a wildfire raging near Peachland, B.C.
Areas affected by Peachland evacuation order
Mmap of areas affected by the <a href="http://www.kelowna.ca/CM/AssetFactory.aspx?did=11735">Peachland evacuation order/alert</a>.
A wild fire burns out of control on highway 97C near Peachland, B.C. on Sunday September 9, 2012.Authorities have ordered the evacuation of about a thousand people from the path of a wildfire raging near Peachland, B.C.
Work crews gather along highway 97C near where a wild fire burns out of control near Peachland, B.C. on Sunday September 9, 2012. Authorities have ordered the evacuation of about a thousand people from the path of a wildfire raging near Peachland, B.C.