UPDATE 7 pm – The Columbia-Shuswap Regional District says residents in the North Shuswap will be able to check on their properties that were damaged or destroyed by the Bush Creek East fire this week.

Residents in the Celista area will have access between 3 and 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 5, while those in Scotch Creek and Lee Creek will be able to do so between 10 a.m. and 12 noon on Wednesday, Sept. 6.

“No bus tours will be provided as initially suggested,” the CSRD said in an update Monday. “A follow-up email will be provided prior to the access times with details of your access, safety on the property, and available support services.”

Jay Simpson, the CSRD’s Area Director for the North Shuswap says there will be a phased re-opening of the communities once both groups of residents have been able to see the damage first-hand.

“After both groups have had their viewing, a phased re-opening will begin with different sections being removed from Evacuation Order to Alert from noon onwards,” Simpson said.

“The phased opening is intended to reduce congestion at the Squilax turnoff and travel through the neighbourhoods.”

Residents in Celista and Magna Bay will see evacuation orders downgraded at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, followed by Scotch Creek and Lee Creek at 4 p.m. Residents in the Lower East Adams Lake and Tsútswecw park area will see their orders lifted at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

“While the fire danger reduced days ago, the damage left behind was significant and crews needed space to work to make your return one which could include as many services as possible,” CSRD CAO, John McLean said, in a video update Monday.

“We really need you to not show up early or we will have congestion. We want to avoid that at all costs.”

The CSRD also says there are now 176 structures in its jurisdiction that were destroyed by the Bush Creek East Fire and another 50 that were partially damaged. That is up from the previous estimates of at least 131 structures were destroyed, and 37 that were partially damaged.

According to BC Hydro’s outage map, power has largely been restored to the North Shuswap and in the Squilax area. Power remains out for about 218 customers in the Adams Lake area, along Holding Road, and in the Dorian Bay area.

“We still have crews working actively in the area and increased traffic from re-entry is expected to be significant,” Information Officer, Tim Conrad, said. “If you are not from the area, please stay away. We do not need extras making re-entry for locals more difficult.”

Another 85 structures on Skwla̓x te Secwepemcúl’ecw land were also destroyed by the blaze, while the Thompson-Nicola Regional District said there were nine properties in the southern Adams Lake area that had some kind of structural impacts.

Both the Thompson-Nicola and the Columbia-Shuswap regional districts rescinded some evacuation orders on Saturday. The CSRD also rescinded evacuation alerts for the western Blind Bay, Notch Hill, Skimikin, and Tappen areas.

The Adams Lake Indian Band has also rescinded evacuation orders for properties on Sahhaltkum IR #4 near Chase and the Stequmwhulpa IR #5 between Chase and Sorrento.

The Village of Chase also rescinded its evacuation alert on Saturday. The alert for Interfor’s Adams Lake mill, which is within Village’s jurisdiction remains in effect.