Osoyoos wildfire: Evacuations ease after frightening weekend

Hundreds of people are being allowed to return to their homes in Osoyoos in southern B.C. after winds pushed back a wildfire that threatened the town over the weekend.

The community endured a terrifying night on Saturday after the Eagle Bluff fire crossed the border with the United States and surged over hills overlooking Osoyoos, lighting the night sky orange as firefighters battled to save the town.

But the town’s mayor, Sue McKortoff, said Monday the town and its tourism industry were back “open for business,” even with most properties in the community still under an evacuation alert or order.

Erick Thompson, spokesman for the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen, announced at a briefing Monday that there are 192 properties now on evacuation order, down from 732. But 2,632 homes are under evacuation alert, which means their residents must be ready to leave at short notice.