600 evacuees allowed to return to Joe Rich

The Central Okanagan Emergency Operations is allowing about 600 residents in the area of the Philpott Road fire to return to their homes.

They will remain on evacuation alert.

READ: Philpott Road wildfire is being contained, Highway 33 has reopened

The evacuation order is being partially rescinded for 263 properties including:

3595-8295 Highway 33
1522-1916 Boone Court
2005-2155 Daves Road
7498-7790 Falcon Road
7604-7995 Falcon Ridge Crescent
7010-7410 Goshawk Road
5609-7550 Goudie Road ***EXCLUDING 6785 Goudie Road
7411-7491 Hawk Road
1306-2098 Huckleberry Road
1114-1395 Jack Pine Road
450-490 Prather Road
4502 Pyman Road
6491-6739 Sun Valley Road ***EXCLUDING 6738 Sun Valley Road
7305-7320 Trapper Court
12550-14000 Highway 33
2770-3110 Schram Road

Evacuees are being told their return will be a slow process.

RCMP, the Ministry of Transportation and Canadian Forces personnel will manage the return.

Household pets such as dogs and cats are being permitted back into these properties, but large animals like horses or livestock are not, due to uncertainty about fire behaviour and the potential for the evacuation order to be reinstated.

Residents on the Falcon Ridge water system are restricted to household water use only.

Irrigation is not permitted to preserve water supply to fight the fire.

As of Sunday afternoon, the blaze was considered 465 hectares in size and was 20 per cent contained.

While hundreds have been allowed to return home, roughly 500 residents remain on evacuation order due to the Philpott Road Wildfire.

Highway 33 was reopened to single lane alternating traffic on Saturday evening. On Sunday vehicles were being escorted through the area between Schram Road and Cardinal Creek Road by pilot car. Drivers faced lengthy delays to get through the area.