Penticton’s mayor said officials are watching the wind direction as the out-of-control Bald Range wildfire prompts evacuation orders and alerts for nearby areas.
“The city is very much on top of this, of course, situational awareness is high,” said Mayor Julius Bloomfield.
“We hope and pray,” he said.
The City of Penticton said Sunday there was no immediate risk to residents due to the Bald Range wildfire.
British Columbia declared a state of provincial emergency Saturday as the entire District of Summerland was placed under an evacuation order. Thousands have been forced from their homes, with many sheltering in Penticton.
Bloomfield estimated there were 12,000 to 15,000 evacuees in Penticton.
He said Penticton residents have been stepping up to support evacuees, with a steady stream of support and donations for people using the evacuation hub established at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre.
Bloomfield said one local farmer offered to donate 2,000 pounds of peaches and a local woman has been making hundreds of sandwiches for evacuees.
He said local pharmacies have also been making sure evacuees have access to their prescription medications.
“I’ve been at that evac center for the last two days, and I can tell you that the general atmosphere in there has been one of gratitude and patience and lots of goodwill involved in there as well,” he said.
“Some people hear that their house is gone and they’re being consoled and comforted by other members of their own community within our evacuation centre,” he said.
Penticton-Summerland MLA Amelia Boultbee said the situation has highlighted the strength of the community.
“The incredible generosity of everyone coming together, looking after one another and I’m so inspired looking at all the volunteers and local businesses donating food and water and assisting each other,” said Boultbee.
As of Sunday, 5,688 Summerland properties were under evacuation order, according to the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen.
The regional district said another 451 properties were under evacuation order and 1,065 were under alert.
Evacuation alerts were expanded Saturday to the border of Penticton, meaning residents in the adjoining RDOS alert area should be ready to leave at a moment’s notice.
Erick Thompson, RDOS information officer, said he has heard frustrations from people at the reception centre in Penticton.
“It’s a challenging situation with a lot of people trying to get help at the same time. Also there are people who maybe lost property who are at the reception centre,” said Thompson.
He said technology issues also caused some delays for evacuees trying to register for assistance.
He said RDOS and Penticton officials will be discussing steps to improve the situation for evacuees.
The B.C. Wildfire Service said the Bald Range fire was discovered on Aug. 7 and had grown to more than 136 square kilometres as of Sunday afternoon.
The wildfire service warned there was a high potential for lightning to spark new wildfires in the central Interior and the Okanagan in the coming days, with higher temperatures and strong wind gusts expected in the Okanagan.
Highway 97 between Penticton and Kelowna was closed Sunday. DriveBC said passenger vehicles could detour via Forest Service Road 201 (Okanagan Falls Road) and Highway 33.
— With files from Kolten Bezooyen and Zachary Barrowcliff
