B.C. fires: evacuation order lifted for Oliver properties

A handful of people living nearOliver in British Columbia's SouthOkanagan can return to their homes now that an evacuation order has been lifted for 27 properties.

The order forced residents near Upper Fairview Road out of their homes Sunday because of the 4,000 hectare Testalinden wildfire, but weather and the shifting path of the blazehave allowed changes.

The homes are still under evacuation alert, meaning they could be forced out of their homes on a moment's notice.

• B.C. fires: 27 properties ordered evacuated near Oliver

• B.C. Fires: 2 aggressive fires burning near Oliver force 200 evacuations

Grand Forks and Christina Lake alerts lifted

Evacuation alerts were lifted earlier today for more than thousand residents inGrand Forks and Christina Lake, which arenear a raging wildfire across the border in Washington State.

A storm sweeping through the provincehas broughtrain tothe area,withmore precipitation forecast for the next few days.

• Fierce B.C. storm knocks out power and causes havoc
• Washington Stickpin wildfire prompts B.C. evacuation alert over threat of 'ember showers'
• Washington Stickpin fire closing in on residents of Grand Forks, B.C.

Residents of the two communities, whichsit as close at five kilometres from the U.S. border, remain wary of the nearly 220-square-kilometreStickpin wildfirestill burning south of their homes.

They were put on evacuation alert last week, meaning they could be ordered to leave their homes at any minute,and spent days packing precious belongingsand awaiting word of shifts in the wind.

The fire is now 20 per cent contained, according to the B.C. Wildfire Service,a slight improvement from a few days ago.

Winds on Saturday made fire conditions extremely dangerous, said Kootenay Regional district staff,so crews were called offuntil the gusts calmed.

Crews returned to work on Sunday and were hopeful they couldget a good grip on the large fire, with soggier weatherdampening fears of ember showers that could spark more damage.