Warning to West Kelowna residents: Don’t try to dodge police checkpoints

WEST KELOWNA — Residents of wildfire evacuation zones around West Kelowna are being warned not to try to dodge police checkpoints and to stay out of restricted areas or face fines.

The district says a wildfire area restriction was implemented on Aug. 25 and remains in force until noon Friday, but could be extended.

The district says safe re-entry to neighbourhoods continues to be a priority, and temporary access to West Kelowna’s Traders Cove and Pine Point neighbourhoods was granted Thursday for residents to retrieve important items, with a similar opening for Wilson’s Landing under consideration.

The regional district estimates about 405 properties in the West Kelowna, Westbank First Nation and the Central Okanagan Regional District areas remain on evacuation order and 12,303 properties are on alert.