Summerland residents begin returning home as roughly 1,200 properties cleared for re-entry
After more than a week, some Summerland residents are finally walking back through their front doors.
After enduring more than a week away from their homes, some Summerland residents are finally returning as parts of the community start to reopen following the Bald Range wildfire. Re-entry is currently permitted in Trout Creek and areas east of Highway 97, covering roughly 1,200 properties. For Scott and Linda Goodwin, the return to their home is a relief, but they face the challenge of smoke and ash lingering inside their property.
Scott described the smell of smoke and the ash covering everything, while Linda expressed her gratitude to be back home despite the strong wildfire smell. However, Linda was frustrated by the lengthy lineups she had to go through during the evacuation process to receive help and documentation. She believes there were not enough government workers to handle the number of evacuees.
Despite the difficulties, Linda plans to write to the provincial government, hoping her experience can lead to improvements for future wildfire responses. The Bald Range fire continues to burn over 21,000 hectares, but for Linda and Scott, the immediate priority is settling back into their home, fearing they might have lost it.
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