Crews restore power and clear hazards in Quilpituk Creek and Bradley Creek wildfire zones
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UPDATE August 14 2026 8:30 AM: Residents can return home today as Quilpituk Creek wildfire evacuation orders downgraded
WESTSIDE ROAD, B.C. - Evacuation orders for the Quilpituk Creek wildfire have been downgraded to alerts and previous alerts lifted, allowing residents to begin returning home Friday under a phased re-entry plan.
Central Okanagan Emergency Operations announced the change Friday morning.
All evacuation orders from Cinnabar Creek to Westshore Estates are now alerts, while alerts south of Cinnabar Creek in the Wilson’s Landing area have been fully lifted.
Residents may return starting today.Access is phased and controlled:
9 a.m.: Cinnabar Creek, Secret Point, Shelter Cove, Caesars Landing and Nahun areas
10 a.m.: La Casa, Fintry, Upper Fintry, Shalal Road, Valley of the Sun and Ewings Landing areas
11 a.m.: Estamont Beach, Killiney Beach and Westshore Estates areas
Residents must enter from the south end of Westside Road via West Kelowna. The north end remains closed with no access past Westshore Estates.
Traffic control is in place, local traffic only, and a no-stopping zone is enforced near the fire area. An information checkpoint at Wilson’s Landing Fire Station will distribute the Returning Home Guide.
No structural losses have been reported.
Officials advise residents to inspect properties for ash, soot, debris and hazard trees before fully settling back in, and to check water quality advisories with their utility provider.
Fire crews will continue mop-up and hotspot patrols, so residual smoke and recovery vehicles should be expected.
The announcement follows Thursday’s declaration that the Quilpituk Creek wildfire was held. Rapid damage assessments of danger trees, hydro lines and other hazards were completed overnight, clearing the way for today’s coordinated return.
In the neighbouring Bradley Creek wildfire zone on Okanagan Indian Band lands, phased returns have already been underway since a partial rescind of orders on August 10 for areas including Willow Shore Road, Head of the Lake Road and portions of Westside Road, with a water quality advisory still in effect.
Video captured Thursday showed extensive recovery work underway in both the Quilpituk and Bradley Creek areas. Support vehicles, including emergency trucks, were staged along Westside Road and in burned fields.
Officials stress that residents in the remaining alert areas should stay prepared to leave if conditions change. Monitor coemergency.ca for maps and updates, and DriveBC for road conditions.
Full official details and the Returning Home Guide are available at coemergency.ca.
Original Story
August 14 2026 - WESTSIDE ROAD, B.C. Utility and recovery crews continued intensive work Thursday along the fire-scarred Westside Road corridor, one day after the Quilpituk Creek wildfire was declared held. Phased returns are expected to be announced today for the Quilpituk Creek wild evecuations as well as the neighbouring Bradley Creek area on Okanagan Indian Band lands.
According to Central Okanagan Emergency Operations, BC Wildfire Service classified the Quilpituk Creek wildfire (near La Casa) as being held on the morning of August 13.
A rapid damage assessment team was deployed to evaluate danger trees, hydro lines and other hazards.
The Emergency Operations Centre stated it would provide residents with the date, timing and critical details for a coordinated return on Friday morning. Evacuation orders and alerts remain in effect until that announcement. Residents can expect to hear today whether re-entry will begin and under what conditions.
Returning residents will receive digital and print information packages covering safety steps, including expected boil-water advisories for systems such as Killiney Beach and Westshore Estates.
In the Bradley Creek wildfire zone, the Okanagan Indian Band partially rescinded evacuation orders effective 5:30 p.m. on August 10.
Residents may return to areas including all of Willow Shore Road and Crescent, Head of the Lake Road, Bluebird Lane, Luke Paul Flats Road, specified addresses on Irish Creek Road South, addresses from the intersection of Highway 97 and Westside Road up to and including 12415 Westside Road, and listed properties on Antoine and Celestine roads.
A water quality advisory remains in place for all addresses on the OKIB water system within the rescinded area. Officials remind returnees that hazards may persist and to use caution, follow posted directions, and respect private property.
Images captured Thursday show the recovery effort underway in both zones.
In the Quilpituk Creek area, crews operated bucket trucks and aerial lifts on steep, blackened hillsides, repairing power lines and poles amid charred trees and rocky slopes.
Utility vans, pickups and support equipment were staged along the road and in burned fields.
Shoreline views across Okanagan Lake showed damaged or destroyed structures, debris and boats still in the water, with hillsides of standing dead timber.
Residual smoke rose from some slopes, and tanker trucks and other vehicles moved along dirt roads through the burn.
Further north in the OKIB Bradley Creek area, similar recovery activity continued. Utility trucks and workers operated along power corridors above partially intact lakeside properties.
Crew at road checkpoints controlled Westside Road access.
A large Desert Cove Estates billboard displayed a message thanking first responders.
As of writing Westside Road remains restricted in sections while BC Hydro and partners re-energize lines and remove hazards.
Officials emphasize that public safety depends on completed assessments.
Residents should continue monitoring coemergency.ca for today’s expected Quilpituk Creek re-entry update and okib.ca for the latest Bradley Creek status and maps.
DriveBC provides current road information. Emergency Support Services remain available for those still displaced.
Crews restore power and clear hazards in Quilpituk Creek and Bradley Creek wildfire zones
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