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Evacuation order lifted for people chased from homes by West Kelowna wildfire

KELOWNA, B.C. – People who were rushed from their homes as a fast-moving wildfire swept through their West Kelowna, B.C., neighbourhood were being allowed to return Friday.

However, they must be prepared to leave again at a moment’s notice.

Seventy properties were ordered evacuated on Monday night, just a day after the lightning-caused fire flared up and spread due to dry conditions and strong winds.

A temporary evacuation centre at the Westside Lions Community Hall opened up the same night and it was run entirely by volunteers.

Volunteer Margaret Tan said she was inspired to help after having to flee her home during a fire last year. She remembered waking up early the next morning and driving back to her apartment, expecting to see ashes and rubble.

“I found out that none of the houses or structures were burned,” she recalled. “I was just washed by such relief that I thought today is the day I have to do some good will.”

About 45 people volunteered daily to help register evacuees, find them accommodation, food, clothing and even medication, said centre manager Catherine Williams.

Next door to the centre, the Canadian Disaster Animal Response Team offered to help families with pets.

Luckily, staff had to care for only a few dogs, including one while a couple went for dinner, said logistics section chief Melina Grant.

Williams, who is also a volunteer, said with a laugh that she likes to live by the words of Winston Churchill.

“You make a living by what you do. You make a life by what you give,” she quoted loosely. “To be part of a community and not do anything, I don’t understand that.”

BC Hydro said customers in the fire area who were without power could expect to have the lights back on by Friday afternoon, thanks to temporary diesel generators.

The units are to provide continuous power to those who have been getting electricity on a rotating basis, BC Hydro said in a statement.

The utility said about 100 customers in the fire zone will remain without power until crews can repair equipment affected by the fire.

On Thursday, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Premier Christy Clark visited the area and thanked fire crews.

Harper promised to work with officials in B.C. and Saskatchewan, where fires have forced numerous evacuations, to better co-ordinate resources and fire mitigation.

More than 220 active fires burned in B.C. Friday, but cooler temperatures and wet weather have helped the firefighting effort.

The fire situation appears to be cooling off for much of the province.

Fire Information Officer Kevin Skrepnek said wet weather has boosted firefighting success across the province.

“That’s buying really crucial time for our crews to get out their and get those fires contained before they’re burning out of control.”

The number of fires burning in B.C. has dropped to 209. There are 16 fires of note, three of those have evacuation alerts connected to them and one, the Dog Mountain fire near Port Alberni, has an evacuation order.

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