Residents of 31 properties can return home after Central Kootenay evacuation order lifted
The evacuation order for an area of the Regional District of Central Kootenay has been lifted after firefighters successfully contained 90 per cent of the nearby Merry Creek wildfire.
At 12:30 p.m. on July 3, the central Kootenay authority announced the evacuation order for 31 properties was ending and said that evacuation alerts for several other areas have also ended.
“Crews have done an incredible job in containing this wildfire and minimizing damage to property,” said Nora Hannon, EOC director and RDCK regional fire chief, in the statement.
“BC Wildfire Service has declared the (Merry Creek) wildfire to be 90% contained and being held with the expectation the wildfire will be 100% contained within the next operational period.”
The local state of emergency has also been cancelled.
The RDCK implemented the order on July 1, after a fire was sparked about eight kilometres southwest of Castlegar. Fire officials quickly labelled it as a "wildfire of note." Residents of the 31 properties were ordered to evacuate, and six areas of Castlegar were put on evacuation alert, as was one other nearby property.
The evacuation order for the more than two-dozen Kootenay properties came just days after the village of Lytton, in a different region of the Interior, went up in flames after a dangerous heatwave and was destroyed completely.
Highway 3 will also be reopened to single lane traffic on Saturday, after a temporary closure, and power on several of the properties will be “remain out” while firefighters continue their work.
“The RDCK advises people to remain vigilant in the event that conditions change and an Evacuation Alert or Order may be re-issued and the evacuation process will recommence.”
Residents are advised to prepare an emergency kit and to be ready to move pets and livestock to a safe area in the event of another emergency.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Canucks claw out 5-4 comeback win over Oilers in Game 1
Dakota Joshua had a goal and two assists and the Vancouver Canucks scored three third-period goals to claw out a 5-4 comeback victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series Wednesday.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.