As expected, the Thompson-Nicola Regional District says residents in the lower west Adams Lake area will be able to go back home tomorrow, Sept. 6.

It says the evacuation order for 75 properties within the TNRD will be downgraded at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, the same time that residents in the Lower East Adams Lake area of the Columbia-Shuswap Regional District will be allowed to return.

“A formal notice will be issued at this time, and residents will be reminded to continue to follow best practices for being on Evacuation Alert,” the TNRD said, in a Tuesday afternoon update.

Last month, the TNRD said there were nine properties south of the Adams Lake ferry terminal that had some kind of structural impacts caused by the Bush Creek East fire.

Residents returning to the area – or those who leave after returning – will only be allowed to do so between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. as Holding Road will be closed to traffic outside of those hours.

“This closure is to all BC Hydro crews to work safely and without interruption, as crews are continuing significant work to repair power infrastructure,” the TNRD added.

“This will allow for the quickest possibly restoration of power to the area.”

According to BC Hydro’s outage map, power remains out for about 218 TNRD and CSRD customers along Holding Road and in the Dorian Bay area on the other side of Adams Lake.

The TNRD also says the Adams Forest Service Road remains closed, even though fire activity has subsided.

“While fire activity has subsided, many hazards remain due to potential debris movement and slope instability and work is ongoing by the [Ministry of Forests] and Interfor to make this route safe,” it said.

“The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure is still working on Loakin-Bear Creek Road to remove dangerous trees and debris so this cannot be used as an alternate route at this time.”

The TNRD will also be collecting contaminated fridges and freezers in the Adams Lake area (southwest side) this Friday, Sept. 8, and next Monday and Wednesday, Sept. 11 and 13. More information can be found here.

For the latest on evacuation orders and alerts in the TNRD, go here.