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Evacuees to return home today – Metro US

Evacuees to return home today

Nearly 1,500 fire evacuees near Terrace Mountain in West Kelowna will be allowed to return home at noon today as the cooler weather has helped firefighters make headway with the blaze.

Around 475 firefighters from across the country are battling the 9,200-hectare wildfire, which broke out on July 18, said fire information officer Mitch Miller.

“It’s 75 per cent contained,” Miller said.

“We’re experiencing favourable weather conditions, particularly with lighter winds and higher relative humidity and a little wee bit of rain, but the effect of that rain is lost quickly because it’s very dry.”

“Unless we get a significant wind event, we don’t expect to see any flare-ups on the fire,” he added.

Another massive wildfire on Mount McLean near Lillooet remains 50 per cent contained at 3,800 hectares, said fire information officer Lindsay Munroe.

“There’s been no change (since Monday),” Munroe said. “The weather’s cooler and there’s higher relative humidity here, so that’s helping.”

Most of the town of Lillooet was evacuated after the fire broke out on July 22, and people were allowed to return home late last week.

Residents there remain under an evacuation alert.