Okanagan Golfing Slowly Returning To Normal

While there have been no reports of damage to any of the more than 38 golf facilities located between Armstrong and Osoyoos along the Highway 97 corridor road closures and heavy smoke did prevented many golfers from visiting some courses in the West Kelowna region.

After more than a week of fire disruptions no deaths or major injuries have been reported although it is believed four homes or structures have been burned. 

Approximately 1,200 residents forced to leave their homes because of the Terrace Mountain wildfire north of Kelowna have been allowed to return home today and an evacuation order has been lifted for residents living along two stretches of Okanagan Lake. However, many residents have been warned they are on a short-notice evacuation alert, meaning they could be asked to leave again at any time.

"Due to some favourable conditions caused by the rain, cooler weather and the work … of firefighters and heavy equipment operators, the evacuation order has been lifted with the caution that this is a huge fire that remains only 20 per cent contained and is relatively close to these inhabited areas," said Jason Johnson with the emergency evacuation centre, according to the CBC News web site Saturday moning.

Evacuation order was lifted effective 8 a.m. Pacific Time Saturday for:

    * Wainman Cove
    * Marchbank
    * Killiney Beach
    * Aspen Shores
    * Summersands
    * Estamont
    * Ewings Landing
    * Nahun
    * Caesar's Landing
    * Shelter Cove

Areas still under an evacuation order:

    * Valley of the Sun
    * Fintry Delta
    * Fintry Provincial Park
    * Upper Fintry
    * Muirallen Estates
    * La Casa
    * Fintry High Farm
    * District lots off South Terrace Mountain

The area around Fintry will remain on evacuation order, and Westside Road remains closed between La Casa on the south side and Baziw Orchards on the north side.

Those returning to homes south of La Casa must access their properties from the south, meaning if they are coming from Vernon, they must use Highway 97 through Kelowna to connect with Westside Road.

Meantime, Vancouver radio station News 1130 reports that roughly eight fires are burning between Whistler and Squamish and the Coastal Fire Service says more could be on the way.  The Mount McLean fire burning near Lillooet has now grown to 400 hectares. Lightening strikes are blamed for most, if not all the new fires.