(UPDATE: Aug. 8 @ 9:15 pm) - While the wildfire news may be dire at the south end of the Okanagan, there's some great news to the north this evening.
Exactly a week after it tore through the Okanagan Indiand Band at the north end of Westside Road, reportedly destroying more than 200 homes in its path, the Bradley Creek wildfire is now being held.
A "held" wildfire, the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) explains, is projected to remain within the current perimeter, control line or boundary based on fuel and weather conditions and resource availability.
While it's not considered under control yet, that means it's not expected to grow beyond its current size estimate of 2,634.8 hectares.
"Along the northern and southern flanks, crews are continuing to patrol and mop-up directly along the fires edge," the latest BCWs update explained.
"Control line construction along Newport Creek working northeast towards Irish Creek Road is complete, meaning the fire is wrapped entirely by guard. Personnel will continue to patrol along the guard as required."
The BCWS added that BC Hydro began reenergizing power lines through the Westside Road corridor today.
The positive news Saturday night means that evacuation orders and alerts are all quickly being lifted. While many are happily going home, others unfortunately have nothing to go home to.
More detailed accounts of the damage will surely be made public over the coming days and weeks.
(UPDATE: Aug. 5 @ 4:45 pm) - Hwy 97 near the Bradley Creek wildfire north of Vernon has now been reopened.
The highway had been closed for a few days because of wildfire threat and to get firefighting crews and equipment in and out of the area.
Spallumcheen Township is stressing that all evacuation orders and alerts in relation to the Bradley Creek wildfire are still in place.
While conditions were calm today and the blaze isn't significantly spreading, there is an incoming weather system that could add winds and dry lightning to already hot and dry conditions.
The potential for wind and dry lightning could change fire behaviour for the worse again.
The North Okanagan Regional District issued a statement today clarifying that residents evacuated by the Bradley Creek wildfire in Electoral Area B will not be able to apply for temporary access permits to visit their property.
The regional district stressed that no such permits have been approved and residents must continue to comply with evacuation orders.
Future access would only be considered if emergency officials deem conditions safe enough.
Even then, the regional district only has the authority to provide potential temporary access to residents in Electoral Area B on Cain, Nashwito, Banks, Beau Park, Siwash Creek, Beatrice, Six Mile Creek and Irish Creek roads.
Residents who have been evacuated from properties within Okanagan Indian Band lands would be required to contact the band directly with any temporary access inquiries.
(UPDATE: Aug. 5 @ 2:25 pm) - Calm conditions mean there's been little growth in the Bradley Creek wildfire at the northwest side of Okanagan Lake.
The BC Wildfire Service continues to list the fire as out-of-control at 2,852 hectares, the same size it was estimated at yesterday.
The blaze has reportedly destroyed more than 200 homes.
Four evacuation orders and three evacuation alerts remain in place.
Highway 97 north of Vernon remains closed due to the fire.
Besides the ongoing firefighting, other crews are also at work.
BC Hydro has personnel in the area dealing with extensive damage caused by the blaze.
Danger tree assessments continue.
And other fire and fire-related equipment and crews continues to come and go as needed.
The emergency reception centre at Hassan Arena is now closed.
Evacuees can still access Emergency Support Services online at https://ess.gov.bc.ca/ or by calling 1-888-800-6493.
A BC Evacuee Helpline is also available 7:30 am to p pm daily at 1-800-387-4258.
(UPDATE: Aug. 4 @ 2:05 pm) - Early this afternoon newly evacuated residents were escorted in a convoy out of the area of the out-of-control and growing Bradley Creek and Quilpituk Creek wildfires.
Earlier today, the North Okanagan Regional District expanded the evacuation order to include properties on Cain, Nashwito, Banks, Beau Park, Siwash Creek, Beatrice and Six Mile Creek roads.
The regional district ordered the newly evacuated citizens to meet members of the RCMP and Vernon Search and Rescue at 1 pm at the corner of Six Mile and Westside roads to be escorted in a convoy out of the area toward the north to Highway 97.
Those requiring Emergency Social Services were to go to the ESS Reception Centre at Kal Tire Place in Vernon.
Evacuees are encouraged to register online at ess.gov.bc.ca.
The expanded evacuation orders were put in place due to challenges around exit routes as the two wildfires continue to impact Westside Road.
The regional district, however, provided some solace by saying the newly evacuated area is not in an immediate threat of wildfire.
The Bradley Creek wildfire has grown to 2,852 hectares from 2,603 hectares over the past day.
(UPDATE: Aug. 4 @ 6:30 am) - The Bradley Creek wildfire remains active at about 2,603 hectares as crews continue working to contain the blaze.
BC Wildfire Service says fire activity was reduced on the weekend, allowing crews and heavy equipment to make good progress on containment efforts.
That work was focused particularly along the southwest flank of the fire.
Ground crews, heavy equipment, helicopters and other aerial resources remain assigned to the incident.
Crews are working to strengthen control lines, protect values at risk and extinguish hotspots.
Night-vision helicopters have also been deployed to target active areas of the fire.
Evacuation orders and alerts remain in place within RDNO Electoral Area B, Okanagan Indian Band, Township of Spallumcheen, City of Armstrong, Splatsin and the Columbia Shuswap Regional District.
Emergency Support Services are available for people on evacuation order at Kal Tire Place in Vernon.
Residents can also call the evacuee helpline at 1-800-387-4258 or register online at ess.gov.bc.ca.
Residents are being reminded to stay clear of wildfire operations.
Officials are also asking people to give firefighting aircraft plenty of space, particularly on Okanagan Lake, where aircraft are collecting water to support suppression efforts.
Hwy 97 and Westside Road closures remain in place.
Residents are being urged to monitor BC Wildfire Service, local authorities and DriveBC for the latest wildfire, evacuation and road information.
(UPDATE: Aug. 2 @ 10:30 am) - Sunday brought some positive developments on the otherwise devastating Bradley Creek wildfire.
The BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) says there was no significant growth on the incident on Sunday or overnight into Monday.
The fire remains out of control, however, and a significant number of BCWS resources continue to assist the Okanagan Indian Band Fire Department with operations.
Okanagan Indian Band chief Dan Wilson spoke Sunday night on behalf of council, calling the situation over the long weekend one of the most significant emergencies the community has ever experienced.
"We still don't know the full extent of what this wildfire has taken from us," Wilson said. "We don't know the condition of every home. We don't know the full impact on families, infrastructure or community. Those answers will come, but they will take time."
Wilson added that he doesn't know the answer to the most pressing question on the mind of everyone who has been evacuated -- "when can we go home?"
"If I had that answer today, I would give it to you. The reality is that I can't," he explained. "The fire is still active. Firefighters are still working in areas that remain dangerous. There are places where crews still can't get in."
Wilson mentioned damaged infrastructure and that includes power lines. The BCWS says it is working with BC Hydro to assess the losses on that front and clear downed power lines.
According to Wilson, the process to go home may take days for some, while it will sadly be much longer for others.
Evacuation orders and alerts remain in effect through various agencies including the Okanagan Indian Band, Regional District of North Okanagan and Township of Spallumcheen.
Westside Road and Hwy 97 remain closed in the area because of the fire.
(UPDATE: Aug. 2 @ 12:30 pm) - It was a destructive night on the front lines of the Bradley Creek wildfire.
The powerful blaze more than doubled in size to 2,600 hectares as crews were challenged with aggressive and shifting winds.
"Gusts were forecast to reach up to 70 km/h in the Okanagan, however, crews on the ground observed sustained 80 km/h winds over the fire and 115 km/h winds at elevation," the BC Wildfire Service's Sunday morning update explained.
"These winds caused significant challenges and the firefighters, helicopters, air tankers and skimmers were unable to hold the fire."
The BCWS described it as a "dynamic weather event" that resulted in "aggressive fire behaviour."
While there has been no official word on losses from the Okanagan Indian Band, social media photos show a path of destruction and several structures destroyed at the north end of Westside Road.
To the south, the Blue Grouse Creek wildfire near Bear Creek is now held and an evacuation alert in the area has been lifted. The Quilpituk Creek wildfire south of La Casa is up to 80 hectares in size.
Crews continue to battle the Bradley Creek and Quilpituk Creek wildfires on Sunday in conditions that are still blustery, but nothing close to the aggressive winds experienced over the previous 24 hours.
(UPDATE: Aug. 1 @ 11 pm) - The Bradley Creek wildfire continues to be fuelled by strong winds, while another wildfire has sparked on the west side of Okanagan Lake.
While there is no new size estimate for the powerful fire at the north end of Westside Road, the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) confirms that it has jumped Hwy 97.
"Aggressive fire activity into this evening has continued to been driven by the significantly elevated winds," the latest BCWS notice says.
"A second wind shift this evening, coming more out of the south, has resulted in the fire growing to the northeast. The fire has crossed Hwy 97 and the highway is now closed."
In addition to the highway closure, the Township of Spallumcheen is now under an evacuation order.
The Township of Spallumcheen has issued an Evacuation Order for the area from Highway 97 to Grandview Flats Rd & Otter Lake Rd due to the Bradley Creek #BCWildfire (K41351). This wildfire is a threat to life & safety. Anyone in the area must evacuate NOW. #BCHwy97 is closed in… pic.twitter.com/sO3njvgQMC
— EmergencyInfoBC (@EmergencyInfoBC) August 2, 2026
As the Bradley Creek wildfire continues to show aggressive behaviour, the same powerful winds have given an early push to a brand new wildfire that sparked south of La Casa late Saturday evening.
BCWS personnel are tackling the new incident alongside the North Westside Fire Department and both fires are being worked on by night-vision helicopters.
Further south, the wildfire near Bear Creek is still estimated at 20 hectares and is displaying rank 1 behaviour, which indicates a smouldering ground fire with no open flame. An evacuation alert is in place for those between Bear Creek and Wilson's Landing.
⚠️ Due to a nearby wildfire, residents in between Bear Creek Provincial Park north to Wilsons Landing are on evacuation alert.
— Central Ok Emergency (@CO_Emerg) August 2, 2026
Please refer to the interactive map on https://t.co/K7jQVqSy1t where you can search by street address to determine if you are affected. pic.twitter.com/tMUXRqZoG0
(Original story: Aug. 1 @ 7 pm) - The wildfire situation on the west side of Okanagan Lake is becoming more dire.
The Bradley Creek wildfire near the north end of Okanagan Lake, which sparked Friday night, is now over 1,000 hectares in size and threatening homes.
According to the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS), the quick growth of the fire is “predominately attributed to the grassy fuel type that this wildfire started in.”
Making matters worse are wind gusts up to 70 km/h being created by a cold front passing through the region.
“As wind speeds continue to elevate, there is the possibility this fire may spot across Okanagan Lake,” a BCWS update notes. “Personnel will be patrolling on the east side of Okanagan Lake monitoring for ember transfer and possible spot fires.”
While crews keep busy with the Bradley Creek wildfire and monitoring the possibility of spread, the BCWS has also dispatched resources to a new fire that started near Bear Creek on Saturday.
That fire, not yet named, is quickly up to 20 hectares in size and there are concerns about it spreading over Westside Road in strong winds Saturday night.
“West Kelowna Fire Rescue crews will be holding the fire at the road while BCWS crews will be establishing hoselay up the east flank of the fire to support water delivery to go direct attack,” an early BCWS update says. “Helicopters will support ground crews with bucketing.”
While there are no evacuation notices in place for the new wildfire near Bear Creek, several residents have been ordered to leave as a result of the Bradley Creek wildfire.
The Okanagan Indian Band has issued an evacuation order, while an evacuation alert is in place through the Regional District of North Okanagan.
Unfortunately, BCWS aerial resources are experiencing difficulties trying to pick up water from Okanagan Lake due to boaters in the area.
"Our aircraft require space to collect water safely and efficiently. Please stay clear of aircraft working in and around the lake," the BCWS urges.
"If firefighting aircraft are nearby, clear the area immediately and stay near the shore to avoid interfering with operations and to prevent putting responder and public life and safety at risk."
KelownaNow will continue to update this story as it develops.
