Residents have no timeline for re-entry as fire continues to burn
Officials say re-entry plans are underway for thousands of evacuees in the Summerland area, but have not provided a timeline for when they might be able to return.
Summerland chief administrative officer Graham Statt says the plan will be rolled out in phases after town officials are able to get back in and assess damages. Some structures have been lost, but officials have not said how many.
In the meantime, some temporary re-entry has been granted for critical infrastructure, with staff working at Telus facilities and the water treatment facility that’s still being threatened by a nearby landfill fire.
Wildfire officials say they continue to increase staffing, with 100 firefighters arriving from Mexico to start Tuesday morning, while the Canadian military is on standby.
Amid the devastation, the mayors of Summerland and Penticton are applauding residents for helping each other during the evacuation process.
RCMP continue to investigate the cause of the Bald Range fire, but are urging the public not to speculate.
