As the current wildfires across the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS) begin to wane and residents return to their homes, the RDOS has announced its Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) is scaling back operations and will be closed to the public effective end of business today (Thursday, July 26).

The RDOS EOC wishes to thank and acknowledge Emergency Social Service personnel who volunteered and co-ordinated the reception centres and assist evacuees.

They also thanked all local media outlets and staff for helping to provide timely information in a professional and respectful manner.

Photo Credit: Facebook RDOSAfter a hectic couple of weeks due to wildfires, the RDOS Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) closed to the public effective end of business Thursday. Residents can still call and access information on the RDOS website.

They also sent special thanks to  emergency responders, including BC Wildfire Services, RCMP, local search and rescue teams and all regional, local and indigenous fire departments. A good word was also put forward to bordering Regional Districts and municipalities for their hard work and co-ordination of efforts through these wildfire events of the past two weeks.

BC Hydro management and field operations were also praised for working quickly to restore power to effected residents in the RDOS and the Penticton Indian Band.

All evacuation orders and alerts put in place across the RDOS and the District of Summerland have all been rescinded over the past 48 hours.

For current information on the wildfire situation across the province, you can visit the website at www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status.

For more information about the RDOS, click here.

While the office will be closed to the public moving forward, residents can still call during office hours at 250-490-4225.