Update: Aug. 8, 8:40 a.m.
The Bald Range wildfire west of Summerland continued its rapid expansion overnight and was estimated at 9,500 hectares Saturday morning, according to the BC Wildfire Service.
The service said the fire broke out late Friday afternoon and grew rapidly amid hot, dry and windy conditions that made forest fuels highly receptive to ignition.
The wildfire continued to exhibit Rank 4 fire behaviour and remained dangerous and volatile, the service said. Winds were carrying embers up to one kilometre ahead of the fire.
Air tankers dropped retardant to help protect structures, but the conditions compromised those efforts, according to the wildfire service.
Structure protection crews remained at the scene overnight to protect buildings in the area.
The fire prompted an evacuation order affecting more than 12,000 people in the District of Summerland late Friday. Evacuees were asked to report to either the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre or Lions Hall in Westbank.
Highway 97 remained closed between Peachland and the Pyramid Picnic Area in Kickininee Provincial Park.
Update: Aug. 8, 3:50 a.m.
Residents in parts of Peachland are under an evacuation alert because of a fire in the Bald Range area.
The alert covers the Peachland watershed and Brenda Mines area, Lower Princeton and the downtown core.
People in the evacuation alert area should be prepared to leave their homes at a moment’s notice and to be away for an extended period. Residents should make arrangements for pets and pack essential items, including medications and important documents.
The following addresses are included in the alert:
- 4900 Brenda Mines Road
- 5503 Glen Lake Forest Service Road
- 6000 Sanderson Avenue
- All properties on Silver Lake Forest Service Road
- 4421-4440 1st Street
- 4402-4479 2nd Street
- 4405-4478 3rd Street
- 4416-4475 4th Street
- 4411-4445 5th Street
- 4445-4460 6th Street
- 5810-5819 Arthur Street
- 5803-5821 Atkinson Crescent
- 5667-5899 Beach Avenue
- 6000-6099 Beatrice Road
- 6160 Brigade Court
- 5808-5832 Brown Place
- 5703-5930 Columbia Avenue
- 5901-5950 Ehlers Road
- 6006-6099 Ellison Avenue
- 6015-6019 Fulks Road
- 6027-6034 Garraway Place
- 6002-6052 Gerrie Road
- 6143-6167 Gillam Crescent
- 5620-5736 Gladstone Road
- 5835-5853 Hackett Road
- 5621 Harrington Court
- 6040-6054 Hawkes Street
- 6201 Heighway Lane
- 4512-6160 Highway 97
- 6042-6095 Jackson Crescent
- 5801-5885 Lakeview Avenue
- 4422-4449 Logan Road
- 5815-5918 MacGregor Road
- 5748-5770 MacKenzie Road
- 4807-4850 McCall Place
- 4751-4776 McLaughlan Place
- 5983-6002 Meldrum Place
- 4624-4724 Minto Street
- 4708-4750 Peachland Place
- 5960-6007 Princess Street
- 4502-4832 Princeton Avenue
- 5868-6152 Sanderson Avenue
- 4784-4790 Seaton Place
- 6100-6196 Seymoure Avenue
- 6050-6079 Siegrist Road
- 2800-6090 Sommerset Avenue
- 6101-6109 Thwaite Crescent
- 5949-6148 Turner Avenue
- 5806-5857 Vicary Road
- 5400-5995 Victoria Street
Residents should consult the detailed evacuation map at https://www.coemergency.ca/map to determine whether their property is affected.
Update: Aug. 8, 2:50 a.m.
Due to the effects of the Bald Range wildfire, power has been lost throughout the District of Summerland.
When it is safe to do so, district staff will work with first responders to restore power.
Update: Aug. 8, 2 a.m.
An evacuation alert for properties on Brenda Mine Road and in the Renfrew and Upper Princeton areas has been upgraded to an evacuation order.
Residents covered by the evacuation order should leave their properties immediately.
The following addresses are included in the order:
- All properties on Aikens Road
- 875 Brenda Mines Road
- All properties on Blacksmith Place
- 6205-6230 Bonnie Lane
- 5268-5323 Bradbury Street
- 4905-4996 Bradley Drive
- 6140-6220 Brigade Court
- 6272-6590 Bulyea Avenue
- All properties on Davies Crescent
- 4948-5079 Elliott Avenue
- 6503-6551 Ferguson Place
- 6311-6352 Forest Hill Drive
- All properties on Gummow Road
- 6204-6212 Haker Place
- 6649 Hardy Street
- 6209-6265 Heighway Lane
- 6444-6711 Highway 97
- 5247 Inga Street
- 6400-6493 Keyes Avenue
- 5002-5414 Law Street
- All properties on Lipsett Avenue
- 6421-6465 Mack Road
- 5135-5225 Maranatha Drive
- 5440-5463 McDougald Road
- 6229-6261 Miller Road
- 4976-4984 Nash Street
- 5357-5495 Pierce Street
- 5115-5253 Pineridge Road
- 6349-6359 Powell Road
- 4809-5436 Princeton Avenue
- 6226-6650 Renfrew Road
- 4932-6293 Sanderson Avenue
- 6482-6568 Sherburn Road
- 5203-5220 Silver Court
- 6404-6485 Stuart Crescent
- 6267 Sundstrom Court
- 5003 Thompson Drive
- 6195-6349 Thompson Drive
- 6691-6789 Thorne Road
- 6306-6376 Topham Place
- 6363-6575 Vernon Avenue
- 6203-6297 Whinton Crescent
- All properties on Wilson Road
- 6325-6391 York Lane
Meanwhile, DriveBC is reporting Highway 97 is closed in both directions due to the wildfire.
DriveBC urged anyone within the closure area who is under an evacuation order to leave immediately, drive with caution and follow directions from emergency crews.
Update Aug. 8, 1:15 a.m.
Penticton officials said there is no threat to the city as people evacuate from the neighbouring District of Summerland.
Anna Melnick, communications manager with the City of Penticton, said the city has opened a reception centre for evacuees.
“At the moment, there is no threat to Penticton, and that is why we have the reception centre set up here at the sports plex, and there is an overflow at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre.”
“Currently we are taking in people that are being evacuated from the District of Summerland right now.”
Melnick said that while the highway remains open, police are directing motorists.
“If you’re going south out of Summerland, the highway is open, but at the moment, the police are turning people around at Sun-Oka Beach to the south just to tell people that you won’t be able to go any further north.”
Residents of Penticton and Summerland are urged to sign up for Voyent Alert! to receive emergency information.
Update Aug. 8, 12:20 a.m.
The District of Summerland issued an evacuation order Saturday for the entire community of about 12,300 people because of the Bald Range wildfire.
The district said residents covered by the order should leave their properties immediately.
Evacuee reception centres were listed at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre, 273 Power St., Penticton; 550 Eckhardt Ave. W., Penticton; and Westbank Lions Community Hall, 2466 Main St., West Kelowna.
The District of Summerland also declared a state of local emergency Aug. 8 under Section 95 of B.C.’s Emergency and Disaster Management Act because of the wildfire.
Update Aug. 8, 12:00 am
The District of Summerland has issued a boil-water advisory as firefighting efforts put significant strain on the water system.
With many farmers in the area, BC Livestock in Okanagan Falls said it is willing to receive evacuated cattle at its property.
BC Livestock said it has space available and can help move livestock out of evacuation areas.
You can access an interactive map of all evacuation orders here.
Update Aug. 7, 11:40 pm
An evacuation order has been expanded to include campgrounds north and south of Okanagan Lake Provincial Park as wildfire conditions worsen in the area.
“B.C. Wildfire is in that area now, talking to campers. It is blowing embers,” officials said.
The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS) warned that motorists travelling between Summerland and Peachland could see flames from the highway and should be prepared for a potential highway closure.
“If you don’t need to travel, please don’t. Local traffic only.”
Evacuees are being directed to the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre.
“If you do know people outside of the impacted areas, that is a good thing for now,” officials said.
Evacuees are also encouraged to register for Emergency Support Services.
Update Aug. 7, 10:50 pm
Approximately 55 people have been airlifted from affected areas, including Faulder, as evacuation orders and alerts remain in place in parts of the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS) and the District of Summerland.
The RDOS confirmed the approximate number of people airlifted as evacuation measures continue in the region.
“We understand they were airlifted out of where they were and into Summerland to a safe location”
An evacuation order has been issued for upper Summerland by the District of Summerland for areas west of Victoria Road.
Residents are being urged to leave immediately as the fire poses an immediate risk to safety, said Thompson.
“If you live in Summerland and you can see the wildfire, then you know as much as anybody what’s happening, that there’s a threat to property, to life safety so if you can now is the time to go.”
Residents can go to emergency reception centres at the Penticton Trade and Convention Center or the Lions Hall in Westbank.
In RDOS Electoral Area F, 311 properties are currently under an evacuation order, while 461 properties in the District of Summerland are also under an evacuation order.
Another 100 properties in the RDOS are under an evacuation alert.
In the District of Summerland, 1,916 properties remain under an evacuation alert.
Properties under an evacuation order must be vacated, while residents under an evacuation alert should be prepared to leave if conditions change.
Officials caution that the number of properties affected by evacuation orders and alerts is subject to change as the situation develops.
A boil water advisory is expected to come into effect for the District of Summerland as firefighting efforts put a major strain on the water system.
Update Aug. 7, 10:00 pm
Evacuation alerts due to the Bald Range wildfire has been expanded into Peachland as the fire continues to rage on in the south Okanagan with residents in the central Okanagan being put on high alert.
Areas in Peachland that are included in new evacuation alerts include properties in the areas of:
5875 Brenda Mines Rd, 6205 – 6230 Bonnie Lane, 5268 – 5323 Bradbury Street, 4905 – 4996 Bradley Drive, 6140 – 6220 Brigade Court, 6272 – 6590 Bulyea Avenue, 4948 – 5079 Elliott Avenue, 6503 – 6551 Ferguson Place, 6311 – 6352 Forest Hill Drive, 6212 Gummow Road, 6204 – 6212 Haker Place, 6649 Hardy Street, 6209 – 6265 Highway Lane, 6444 – 6711 Highway 97, 5247 Inga Street, 6400 – 6493 Keyes Avenue , 5002 – 5414 Law Street , 6213 – 6266 Lipsett Avenue, 6421 – 6465 Mack Road, 5135 – 5225 Maranatha Drive, 5440 – 5463 McDougald Road, 6229 – 6261 Miller Road, 4976 – 4984 Nash Street, 5357 – 5495 Pierce Street, 5115 – 5253 Pineridge Road, 6349 – 6359 Powell Road, 4809 – 5436 Princeton Avenue, 6226 – 6650 Renfrew Road, 4932 – 6293 Sanderson Avenue, 6482 – 6568 Sherburn Road, 5203 – 5220 Silver Court, 6404 – 6485 Stuart Crescent, 6267 Sundstrom Court, 5003 Thompson Drive, 6195 – 6349 Thompson Drive, 6691 – 6789 Thorne Road, 6306 – 6376 Topham Place, 6363 – 6575 Vernon Avenue, 6203 – 6297 Whinton Crescent and 6325 – 6391 York Lane
RDOS Information officer said situations like this can change quickly and it is important to stay up to date.
“This fire that were dealing with right now is massive the situation is dynamic and if your in Summerland or the RDOS the most up to date information comes from the RDOS information center.”
The District of Summerland is also asking residents to avoid irrigation including for structure protection.
“Residents are asked to not irrigate at this time. High irrigation flows can impact the water treatment plant which in turn could affect fire fighting water flow. If you are irrigating your lawn or field at this time please immediately stop this activity.”
The Bald Range fire broke out and expanded to a size of 50 square kilometres withing three hours.
People who have been forced to evacuate can go to the emergency reception centre at 550 Eckhardt Ave. West in Penticton or at the Lions Community Hall in Westbank
Update Aug. 7, 9:00 pm
The wildfire west of Summerland has quintupled in size in the last 90 minutes, now measuring 5,000 hectares in size.
The fire, which has been named the Bald Range fire by the BC Wildfire Service, has already forced evacuation orders in Summerland and an evacuation alert has expanded to properties in the Peachland areas of 7210 Brent Road to 7100 Brent Road 7280 HWY 97S to 6801 HWY 97S and 307 Log Chute Road to 303 Log Chute Road.
Premier David Eby said he was thinking of people in Summerland as the wildfire threatened the area.
“My thoughts are with the people in the Summerland area and the firefighters and emergency personnel working hard to keep people safe”
People ordered to evacuate can go to emergency reception centres on Eckhardt Avenue West in Penticton or at Lions Community Hall in Westbank.
The Emergency Support Services (ESS) Reception Centre has been relocated from the Summerland Arena, 8820 Jubilee Rd E and is now located at 550 Eckhardt Avenue West in Penticton.
Update Aug. 7, 7:30 pm
A wildfire west of Summerland near Trout Creek has expanded rapidly, growing by about 950 hectares, or 9.5 square kilometres, in roughly 90 minutes.
The fire is now estimated at 1,000 hectares, or 10 square kilometres.
The B.C. Wildfire Service has upgraded the fire behaviour to Rank 5, which includes an organized flame front, a fast rate of spread and moderate- to long-range spotting
The wildfire service said strong winds in the South Okanagan are expected to contribute to continued fire growth.
Structure protection crews are also on scene to protect buildings in the area.
Evacuation orders have been issued for areas around Faulder, extending from the western Summerland boundary west to approximately kilometre 15 of Princeton-Summerland Road, north past Darke Lake and south to Bathville Road.
The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen and Regional District of Central Okanagan have issued evacuation information for affected areas. Residents should consult their local emergency authority to determine whether their property is subject to an order or alert.
RDOS information officer Erik Thompson said saving human lives is the number one priority right now.
“Life safety is the most important thing right now, which is why we are trying to get this information out as quickly as possible”
Thompson added that the fire has seen some of the fastest growth he has ever witnessed.
“We’ve dealt with major fires here before, but this, from what I can recall, is one of the quickest-moving, largest fires in such a short time. That is why information will be key. Don’t rely on Facebook if you don’t know if the information is confirmed from official sources.”
The District of Summerland and Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen are urging residents to stay informed through official emergency updates and the Voyent Alert notification service.
People who have been forced to evacuate can go to the emergency reception centre at Eckhardt Ave. West in Penticton or at the Lions Community Hall in Westbank
Original story Aug. 7, 6:30 pm
A wildfire that broke out west of Summerland near Trout Creek was estimated at 50 hectares late Thursday afternoon.
The fire broke out late in the afternoon and spread very quickly, with the BC Wildfire Service saying the blaze is showcasing rank four fire behaviour, which has moderate to fast speeds with short-ranged spotting.
Firefighters, helicopters and airtankers were responding to the wildfire.
No evacuation orders or alerts had been reported at the time of the original story. The cause of the fire was unknown.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
