Alerts Lifted, Animals Can Return

Crews continue to make progress on the Philpott Road fire, which started two weeks ago, in the Joe Rich area east of Kelowna.

That fire hasn’t grown lately — still 465 hectares — but is now 70 percent contained.

That has allowed the Regional District of Central Okanagan to lift all the remaining evacuation alerts, and also permitting residents to bring farm animals back to their properties.

An area restriction for all Crown land in the vicinity of the Philpott fire –banning recreational use and hunting — remains in effect.

The fire which was said to be human caused, started Aug. 24, and initially involved 474 properties and 1.100 residents being evacuated.