BURSTDespite slowed activity and no anticipated growth of the Bald Range wildfire, an area restriction order has been announced.
BC Wildfire Service has issued a notice that an area restriction order will come into effect at 12 p.m. on Aug. 29 for the wildfire west of Summerland, and will remain in place until Sept. 12 or the order is rescinded.
The restriction is to limit public interference with operations and maintain public and firefighter safety.
As written in the Wildfire Act, a person may only gain access to the restricted area with written permission from a designated official.
The area can be accessed only in the course of:
(a) Travelling as a person acting in an official capacity;
(b) Travelling for the purpose of supporting wildfire suppression activities;
(c) Travelling to or from his or her principal residence, that is not under an evacuation order;
(d) Travelling to or from his or her private or leased property for the purposes of accessing his or her secondary residence or recreational property, that is not under an evacuation order.
(e) Using a highway as defined in the Transportation Act;
(f) Using the Princeton-Summerland Road; or
(g) Engaging and/or participating in agricultural activities pertaining to livestock or agriculture management on Crown Range, Crown Grazing Lease, private or leased property.
The blaze was discovered the afternoon of Aug. 7 about 15 kilometres west of Summerland. Hot, dry and windy conditions aided flames in spreading rapidly in all directions, forcing the evacuation of an estimated 20,000 people, including the entirety of Summerland.
The wildfire destroyed about 150 structures and grew to 25,191 hectares before BC Wildfire Service reported it was being held.