(UPDATE: Aug. 28 @ 3:35 pm) - With the Bald Range wildfire near Summerland now held, more evacuation orders and alerts are being rescinded.
The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS) is rescinding the evacuation alerts for some areas in Electoral Areas "F" and "H" (see here). It is also rescinding the evacuation order for Brent Lake and Shingle Creek in Electoral Area "F" (see here)
The Penticton Indian Band is ending its local state of emergency and rescinding the evacuation order for six properties: 111 Big Valley Rd., 119 Big Valley Rd., 411 Big Valley Rd., 791 shingle Creek Rd., 795 Shingle Creek Rd. and 851 Shingle Creek Rd. N.
(UPDATE: Aug. 28 @ 8:30 pm) - After three weeks of burning out of control, the Bald Range wildfire near Summerland has been downgraded.
In a Thursday evening update, the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) said the fire is now 'being held' at 25,230 hectares.
That means that it's not expected to grow beyond its current perimeter, control line or boundary, based on fuel, weather conditions and resource availability.
A small number of evacuation orders remain in place for the areas hardest hit by the wildfire that left a path of destruction in its wake as it exploded on Aug. 7.
(UPDATE: Aug. 27 @ 1 pm) - The Bald Range wildfire remains an estimated 25,230 hectares today.
And while it's still very much an active wildfire, especially in the forested area to the west, the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) says it will no longer be considered a 'wildfire of note'.
"This does not impact the resources assigned to the fire or operational decisions," today's BCWS update explained. We continue to be well resourced with ground crews, aviation resources, heavy equipment and an incident management team."
The BCWS also noted that there will no longer by 24-hour operations on the wildfire, as operational objectives have been met and nighttime fire behaviour is decreasing.
Not only are the longer and cooler nights helping with the firefight, more manageable conditions are expected during the days moving forward.
"Starting today, we will generally move into a more fall-like weather pattern, with temperatures trending down and relative humidity increasing," the BCWS added. "We expect this to moderate fire behaviour."
There are 378 ground personnel assigned to the fire and that includes 100 Mexican wildland firefighters that have returned to action following their rest days. There are also out-of-province crews from Alberta and Quebec assisting BCWS personnel.
(UPDATE: Aug. 26 @ 10:30 am) - The good news is that the new Bald Range wildfire size estimate of 25,230 hectares represents just slight growth.
The bad news is that BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) crews are bracing for some difficult conditions on Wednesday.
According to the BCWS, today will be "hot, dry and windy with gusts up to 50 km/h expected by this afternoon."
"We can expect to see more visible signs of fire activity today, particularly along the most active west flank of the Bald Range wildfire," says the latest update.
Not only will the wind be gusting, it has the potential to "shift dramatically," the BCWS explains, which could present safety concerns for ground crews and aerial resources.
"Crews, heavy equipment and aviation resources have been preparing for today’s conditions and will focus on actioning any spot fires when safe to do so," the update continues. "Responder safety is always our top priority, so keeping our people safe will be paramount today."
While Summerland residents are home and breathing a sigh of relief after evacuation alerts were rescinded on Tuesday, they will likely see fire activity today in areas that were previously not visible.
"This is expected as conditions become progressively warmer and drier," the BCWS notes.
The overall picture is very positive for the Bald Range wildfire, as the Hwy 97 corridor is secured and fire activity is minimal, while crews continue mop-up work on the north and south flanks.
As mentioned, the west flank is where the action is these days, and crews are expected to be battling the wildfire for quite some time in the forest away from the community.
(UPDATE: Aug. 25 @ 9:15 am) - Officials were busy on Monday night rescinding more evacuation orders and alerts for the Bald Range wildfire.
That includes the entire District of Summerland, where all evacuation alerts have been rescinded exception the handful of properties that remain under an evacuation order.
A pair of evacuation orders for properties along the Princeton-Summerland Road corridor were also downgraded to evacuation alerts by the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen.
Finally, the following evacuation orders were fully rescinded by the RDOS:
A re-entry guide is available for returning residents here.
The Bald Range wildfire remains an estimated 25,021 hectares, with the latest BC Wildfire Service update (BCWS) coming early Monday evening.
Crews are preparing for warm and dry weather over the next couple of days, which means an increase in fire behaviour and activity is expected.
That will particularly be noticed on the west flank of the fire, north of Isintok Lake, which has been the most active portion of the fire of late.
The BCWS will has significant resources assigned to the fire, which includes 339 firefighters, 79 pieces of heavy equipment, 19 structure protection personnel and 15 helicopters.
An incident management team is in charge of the operation, which is 24 hours per day split between day and night shifts.
(UPDATE: Aug. 24 @ 3:45 pm) - Central Okanagan Emergency Management (CORD) has lifted all remaining evacuation alerts for properties in Peachland and Electoral Area West.
The news comes following a weekend when the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) said that the northern parts of the fire received some rainfall over the weekend and that operations along the north flank are nearing completion.
"Although the Bald Range wildfire remains classified as out of control, (the BCWS) has concluded that the threat to these communities has passed," CORD said about the decision to rescind the evacuation alerts.
(UPDATE: Aug. 24 @ noon) - More Meadow Valley residents have been given the green light to return home, 17 days after the fast-moving Bald Range wildfire forced them to evacuate.
In a statement issued late Monday morning, the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS) said the evacuation order has been downgraded to an evacuation alert for "specific properties in Meadow Valley."
The official RDOS order can be found here, while an interactive map of what properties are under evacuation orders or alerts can be found here.
In today's announcement, the RDOS also clarified that Faulder remains under an evacuation order at this time.
"Access restrictions remain in place, and only authorized personnel and approved permit holders may enter the area," the RDOS statement said. "Security personnel will remain in the Faulder area to support access restrictions and protect the community."
Returning residents are being told to look at the Electoral Area "F" re-entry guide, available here, for information about returning home.
(UPDATE: Aug. 24 @ 9 am) - It was a relatively quiet weekend for the Bald Range wildfire, at least from the outside looking in.
While crews were certainly busy on the front lines, the fire has only grew around 1,000 hectares between Thursday and Sunday. It's currently an estimated 25,021 hectares in size.
Mother Nature helped out a bit over the weekend. The BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) says the northern parts of the Bald Range wildfire received 6-7 mm of rain.
"Our operations along the north flank of the fire are nearing completion as we finalize our mop up and patrol to secure this portion of the fire," the positive update explained.
The south flank received minimal rains, however, and there is still work to do down there, but the BCWS says crews are "solidifying containment" in the area.
"The Brent Mountain Protected Area is a priority for our suppression efforts on the south flank of the fire," the update added. "We are building a contingency line south of Isintok Lake and west of Brent Mountain as a precautionary measure; should fire activity challenge our primary control lines."
The western flank remains the most active, but some weekend rain and lower fire behaviour allowed crews to make some progress there over the past 48 hours.
Structure protection mop-up around homes and other values in Summerland, as well as surrounding areas, has been completed, but ground crews continue to patrol these areas and douse hot spots.
Most residents have returned home, but small pockets of the most affected areas remain under an evacuation order at this time. No evacuation orders were lifted over the weekend.
A statement from the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen Emergency Operations Centre on Sunday said work is ongoing to support the safe return of Faulder and Meadow Valley residents "as soon as conditions allow."
(UPDATE: Aug. 21 @ 3:15 pm) - Both the District of Summerland and Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS) have rescinded more evacuation orders for the Bald Range wildfire today.
It was just a small number of properties for the District, while the RDOS only gave the green light for one address to go home at 23000 Gallaugher St. in Electoral Area F.
According to the District, these are the only addresses that remain under an evacuation order at this time:
All properties that have returned home over the past week will remain under an evacuation alert until further notice. A boil water notice remains in effect for the entire community.
"Conditions can change rapidly, and residents should be prepared to leave on short notice if an evacuation order is issued," the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) explained.
The EOC also provided a look at some of the numbers around the Bald Range wildfire on Friday afternoon.
However, the numbers are considered "approximate" and some are now slightly outdated as they reflect information available on Wednesday, Aug. 19.
You can see those numbers here.
(UPDATE: Aug. 21 @ 11:30 am) - Close to all of the evacuation orders issued for the Bald Range wildfire have been rescinded and life is slowly starting to return to normal for many Summerland residents.
However, a small cohort of South Okanagan residents remain out of their homes and others don't have homes to go back to.
Stefan Hood, the BC Wildfire Service's (BCWS) incoming incident commander for the fire, taking over for Hugh Murdoch, says there "remains a lot of work to be done."
The fire is still raging out of control to the west, but Hood is also referring to work done by BC Hydro, FortisBC, other utility providers and local governments to fully restore services that residents rely on.
“A lot of that work is ongoing now and we expect it to continue for the foreseeable future until everything is put back the way it was prior to the impacts of the wildfire," he explained in a video update shared on Thursday.
According to the BCWS, fire activity has dampened a bit in recent days thanks to some smoke coverage that has reduced direct sun exposure, lowered the ambient temperature and increased relative humidity.
"Fuels remain extremely dry and if we observe clear skies over the incident, we can expect elevated fire behaviour, even without the influence of strong winds," the latest BCWS update explained.
Hood provided some good news during his video update, as the cold front anticipated to pass through on Friday has not developed as forecasters expected.
While there are still expected to be some challenging winds over the next 48 hours, they won't be quite as erratic as initially believed.
The bulk of the fire's most aggressive activity remains to the west, but the BCWS provided an update on the lesser-talked-about north and south flanks.
"The south flank of the fire has seen fire behaviour and growth in recent days. (On Thursday) evening, ignitions were completed in two critical areas long this flank, to remove unburnt fuel and reinforce control lines. Ground crews are holding this line with support from heavy equipment and aviation," the update stated.
"Along the north flank, ground crews assisted by heavy equipment are conducting direct attack and continuing to expand and strengthen containment, to prevent the fire from moving to the north towards Peachland and other identified values."
Back in Summerland, structure protection personnel and ground crews have completed an extensive mop-up of the community.
Ground crews will continue to patrol this area in the coming days, but structure personnel are moving out of areas where immediate risk has passed.
The BCWS has also relocated its incident command post to outside of Summerland and there will be a diminished presence of BCWS staff in the community overall.
“In no way does that mean we are not providing those resources to the fire, we’ve just relocated," noted Hood. "As the fire grows further away from town, we can move to an area that allows us to focus in on those areas of concern."
The Bald Range wildfire remains the same 24,096 hectares it was estimated at around mid-day Thursday.
(UPDATE: Aug. 20 @ 12:15 pm) - The BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) says the Bald Range wildfire is now an estimated 24,096 hectares.
The growth of just over 1,400 hectares from Wednesday's estimate is the largest recorded growth the fire has experienced since the first weekend after it broke out on Friday, Aug. 7.
Most of that growth continues to be to the west, however, and the firefight away from the community is expected to keep BCWS crews busy for quite some time.
As expected, the District of Summerland gave the green light for even more residents to head home today.
As of noon, the evacuation order was once again partially downgraded. It has now been rescinded for the entire community with the exception of the following addresses:
(UPDATE: Aug. 19 @ 10:30 am) - The Bald Range wildfire is a tale of two flanks.
On the eastern flank, fire activity has essentially disappeared and that has allowed local governments to send a large portion of the 20,000-odd evacuated residents home over the past few days.
On the western flank, however, the fire continues to range on and BC Wildfire Service Incident Commander Hugh Murdoch says it's been "really challenging."
"The weather conditions really aren’t helping us much at all," Murdoch explained in a Tuesday video update. "We’re seeing a lot more active fire behaviour in a variety of locations. There are lots of pockets of rank 3, 4 and even some 5 fire behaviour."
According to Murdoch, crews are seeing spotting more than 200 metres ahead of the fire front, which means embers are jumping over containment lines and effectively creating their own new fires.
In the video, Equipment Branch Director Phil MacDonald also provided an explanation on the role that more than 70 pieces of heavy equipment are playing on the fire.
He called heavy equipment "an invaluable piece of our fire suppression activity" and the operators "the unsung heroes" of those efforts.
The Bald Range wildfire is currently estimated at 22,693 hectares.
While recent weather has been challenging enough, as Murdoch indicated, crews are bracing for even more difficulty as a cold front threatens to pass through the area on Friday.
According to the BCWS, conditions are "not expected to be as severe as previously forecast," but the fire will still be impacted by stronger, shifting winds heading into the weekend.
While a large number of evacuees have already gone home, the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen provided an update for those who remain out of the community right now.
"Progress continues as crews work to restore power and clear dangerous trees, rocks and debris from affected areas," the update explained. "While there is still work to be done, important steps are being taken each day to make the area safer."
(UPDATE: Aug. 18 @ 3:30 pm) - Larger portions of Summerland proper residents were able to return home today after the District of Summerland partially downgraded its evacuation order for the Bald Range wildfire for a third time.
A few hours later, the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen got in on the fun, rescinding the evacuation order for Electoral Area 'F' properties west of Hwy 97 to the Summerland south boundary.
Of course, every single resident who has returned home in the Summerland area in recent days remains under evacuation alert.
The BC Wildfire Service has upped its size estimate for the Bald Range wildfire a bit today, as it's now listed as 22,082 hectares.
The Service's latest update says fire behaviour increased overnight, with rank 4 and pockets of rank 5 behaviour observed in portions of the fire.
"This included highly to extremely vigorous surface fire, torching and active crown fire," the update explains. "Increased fire behaviour resulted in several spot fires crossing established control lines."
According to the BCWS, multiple small spot fires occured in the Bald Range area along the fearsome northwestern flank, with some embers travelling more than 200 metres across control lines.
Fortunately, crews were able to successfully contain those spot fires, as was the case for a single spot fire identified outside of established control lines along the southwestern portion of the fire near Shingle Creek Road.
BCWS crews are bracing for the potential for increase fire behaviour later this week, as a cold front could potentially move through the area late Friday and bring stronger, shifting winds with it.
(UPDATE: Aug. 18 @ 8:30 am) - It's currently estimated that around 150 properties were destroyed or damaged by the Bald Range Wildfire.
That was the number provided by District of Summerland CAO Graham Statt during a Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS) livestream on Monday night.
Statt clarified that the number was brand new information, calling it "rough" and "live", and that it was likely to increase as officials got into more detailed on-site evaluations over the coming days.
According to Statt, around 40 of those destroyed or damaged structures are in the Summerland proper area, while the remainder are outside of the community on RDOS Electoral Area F land.
Officials are still in the process of contacting residents whose homes are included in that list.
While assessments continue in the area, the District of Summerland gave even more people the green light to go home on Tuesday morning.
The evacuation order affecting the community was partially downgraded again, as of 7 am, to enable re-entry for a large number of Summerland proper residents.
Specifically, those who live west of Hwy 97, up to an including a portion of Cartwright Avenue, and a portion of Haddrell Avenue, south of Dale Meadows Road, can return to their residences and businesses.
However, that evacuation order remains in place for:
As that process continues in the community, hundreds of BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) personnel continue to battle the Bald Range wildfire, which is currently estimated at 21,391 hectares.
While crews have been successfully holding the fire on the eastern, northern and southern flanks, there was a bit of a scare to the south on Monday.
"A spot fire crossed the guard (on Monday), but was quickly suppressed be helicopters and ground crews," the BCWS update explained. "It is estimated that the ember travelled over 200 metres."
The BCWS called it a good reminder that fuels in the area are "very dry" and fire behaviour can be unpredictable, despite the great progress that has been made over recent days.
The biggest battle remains to the west and northwest, where BCWS Incident Commander Hugh Murdoch said over the weekend that crews would be battling a more typical and aggressive forest fire for a "very long period of time."
Heavy equipment continues to support both direct and indirect attack operations in that area by establishing and reinforcing control lines. Crews are also constructing hand guard and may conduct planned ignitions where conditions allow.
(UPDATE: Aug. 17 @ 8:30 am) - Evacuation orders were rescinded for hundreds of Summerland properties on Sunday, as well as more just north of the community.
Trout Creek on the west side of Hwy 97 and properties east of the highway, south of McDougald Road, were given the green light to go home by the District of Summerland.
The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen lifted its evacuation order for more properties east of Hwy 97 between Greata Ranch South and Summerland.
All of these properties remain under evacuation alert due to the Bald Range wildfire and a boil water notice is in effect for the District properties.
It was a significant re-entry, more than twice the size of the first one on Friday, and that resulted in a bit of confusion at times, but officials say the process was generally successful.
However, there will be no evacuation orders rescinded on Monday, as officials take a pause to evaluate the process and prepare for a larger, faster re-entry coming as early as Tuesday.
The BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) provided another video update on Sunday and Incident Commander Hugh Murdoch said "things are going really out there." That's especially true to the east, south and parts of the north.
However, the Bald Range wildfire continues to burn steadily and at times aggressively to the west and northwest, where Murdoch says the fuels are a lot heavier and the topography is much steeper.
According to Fire Behaviour Analyst Eric Kopetski, the area has experienced near-record levels of dryness thanks to high temperatures, low humidity and a lack of precipitation. There has only been 2 millimetres of rain since July 1 and none since the start of August.
The BCWS notes that moisture measured in wood on the ground was found to be 6-10%. For perspective, firewood is considered dry when it's between 15-20% moisture content.
Unfortunately, there is no help from Mother Nature on the horizon, and Murdoch says BCWS crews are expected to be battling the Bald Range wildfire for a "very long period of time, just doing the good work out in the woods."
“It’s just going to turn into a real traditional fire fight there in some pretty tough ground, given the conditions that we’re in," he noted.
The Bald Range wildfire is an estimated 21,256 hectares in size. There are upwards of 500 personnel assigned to the incident, along with 16 helicopters and close to 60 pieces of heavy equipment.
(UPDATE: Aug. 16 @ 1 pm) - More Summerland residents can now head home.
As expected, the District of Summerland partially rescinded the evacuation order that was issued for the entire community shortly after midnight on Saturday, Aug. 8, just hours after after the Bald Range wildfire began.
As of noon, properties east of Hwy 97, south of McDougald Road, and Trout Creek properties on the west side of Hwy 97 were given the green light to go home. They remain under an evacuation alert and a boil water notice.
For detailed maps of the areas affected by today's change to the evacuation order, as well as additional information about heading home, click here.
It was also announced early Sunday afternoon that Hwy 97 is now fully open between the South and Central Okanagan. The route, which shut down right around the same time that Summerland was evacuated, had partially reopened on three days ago.
As for the latest on the Bald Range wildfire, the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) currently estimates it at 21,145 hectares in size.
The most challenging area at this time remains the western and northwestern flanks, where the fire continues to exhibit steady growth. The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen issued an additional evacuation alert to the west on Saturday.
The BCWS says crews have been able to successfully hold the fire behind control lines in the north and south. Activity has essentially ceased on the eastern flank, which is what has allowed for many Summerland residents to head home.
(UPDATE: Aug. 16 @ 8 am) - Evacuation orders are still expected to be rescinded for around 800 Summerland properties on Sunday.
During a Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS) update Saturday night, officials said the plan is to combine three areas into one larger re-entry zone. Information on that process will be shared later today.
While it's been very positive news on the east side of the Bald Range wildfire over the weekend, the BC Wildfire Service's Saturday night update is a reminder that the fire is very much active elsewhere.
That's particularly true on the western flank, where around two kilometres of growth occurred near the Princeton-Summerland Road corridor on Saturday.
"The fire is approximately 20 km from the Osprey Lake area but continues to move in that direction, averaging approximately 2 km of growth cross slope and uphill each day," the update said. "Further growth along this corridor is expected for tomorrow."
According to the BCWS, the fire remains active to the north and south as well, but firefighers continue to make very good progress on containment efforts in those areas.
Here's what the BCWS had to say about expected conditions on Sunday: "Winds will be variable. An inversion is expected over the Summerland area in the morning, which will result in heavy smoke accumulation and reduced visibility. Fire behaviour is expected to increase once the inversion lifts and clearer skies allow direct sunlight to reach fuels."
NowMedia will update this main story once information about people's return home is shared by officials today.
(UPDATE: Aug. 15 @ 1:30 pm) - After evacuation orders were lifted for around 400 properties in the Trout Creek neighbourhood on Friday, more Summerland residents are expected to be given the green light to head home on Sunday.
Speaking with Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS) communications manager Erick Thompson on a livestream Saturday morning, Summerland CAO Graham Statt explained that the re-entry of Trout Creek residents on Friday acted as a bit of a test run.
"It validated what we thought we can do with these staged re-entries," he explained, indicating that it gives them the confidence to "get bigger, faster."
That means, he confirmed, that the plan is to allow a much bigger cohort of residents to return home on Sunday.
"It’s not going to be all of Summerland," Statt clarified. "We have damaged areas, we have areas that we still have downed power lines that are live; but for those areas that were furthest away from the fire and the least impacted, we’re bundling those together and trying to do it faster.”
Statt explained that the District is feeling better about its wastewater treatment facility and its ability to handle larger groups of people coming home, as well as comfortable about utilities being ready.
At the end of the day, he noted, people want to get home and "that's the best place for them to be."
One area that is still a "going concern" for the District is the landfill, where a large quantities of composted material are on fire and "very hard to put out." That fire has engaged other areas of the landfill that could be producing toxic fumes, Statt said.
He added that it looks "quite apocalyptic" and those assessing the situation are wearing full hazmat suits, but the landfill is a ways away from the neighbourhoods that will be given the green light to go home on Sunday.
As for the Bald Range wildfire itself, the BC Wildfire Service updated its size estimate to 20,553 hectares early Saturday afternoon.
"Last night, crews worked in the Shingle Creek Road area, conducting hand ignitions where weather conditions allowed," the update explained.
"Planned ignitions are an effective suppression tactic that reduces available fuel and helps limit the potential for the wildfire to spread beyond established control lines."
Although some spotting occurred on the southern end of the fire, crews were able to locate and suppress the flare ups. That work was supported be a trio of night-vision helicopters working between sunset and sunrise.
"Overall, crews continue to make good progress on suppression efforts and reinforcing control lines," the BCWS noted.
A more detailed update regarding Saturday's progress is expected from the BCWS later tonight.
(UPDATE: Aug. 14 @ 9:30 pm) - Incident Commander Hugh Murdoch says the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) will be battling the Bald Range wildfire "for the foreseeable future."
And while there is still much to do before the massive incident can be considered held, let alone under control, there have certainly been some positive developments over the past couple of days.
The fire, which is around 20,000 hectares in size, is continuing its growth to the northwest, burning through forested areas away from communities.
Near communities, however, crews are seeing lesser activity, the BCWS says, both due to fortunate shifts in winds and the hard work of fire crews.
"Conditions west of Hwy 97 continue to look favourable, with suppression efforts progressing well," explained part of the BCWS' Friday night update, which added that "firefighters are continuing to make good progress bringing fire to machine and hand guard across the northern flank."
As has been the case over the latter half of the week, fire activity was seen most today on the western flank, particularly to the northwest, near the Princeton-Summerland Road corridor.
"Firefighters and heavy equipment continue working in this area to establish and reinforce control lines and conduct planned ignitions when conditions allow," the BCWS noted.
The south continues to be a priority area for firefighters as well and crews conducted a burn-off operation off Shingle Creek Road today.
According to the BCWS, burning off is what the Service refers to as a planned operation that utilizes the wind conditions to work in the favour of suppression efforts.
"For these operations, crews will build control lines around the fire and, when conditions allow, will begin a planned ignition to remove remaining unburned fuel between the control line and the wildfire," the update said.
"This removes fuel from the fire’s path and ensures that the wildfire has less chance of reaching, and breaching, the control line or fire guard in place."
The Bald Range wildfire will continue to burn out of control for some time, but a staged re-entry began today with the downgrade of all evacuation orders in Peachland and surrounding rural areas, as well as for about 400 properties in the Trout Creek neighbourhood in Summerland.
"Officials have identified several areas that could be next and are working through the remaining operational, safety, utility and security requirements," explained a Friday evening update from the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS).
"Wildfire risk is improving in Summerland proper, according to the latest information shared by the emergency operations team."
According to the RDOS, around 90% of Summerland has power and crews are working toward full restoration. The wastewater treatment plant has also been restarted successfully.
The fire remains an estimated 19,891 hectares, but a new size estimate that will almost certainly see it surpass 20,000 hectares is likely coming from the BCWS on Saturday.
The BCWS says 112 of the 320 firefighters assigned to the incident work overnight with support from a night-vision helicopter group, which consists of three choppers. Structure protection personnel continue to work 24/7.
(UPDATE: Aug. 14 @ 2 pm) - There's good news for Peachland residents who were forced from their homes when the Bald Range wildfire broke out last Friday night.
Central Okanagan Emergency Management (CORD) announced Friday afternoon that evacuation orders for all properties in Peachland and Electoral Area West will be downgraded to evacuation alerts at 6 pm.
"Residents remaining on evacuation alert should be prepared to leave immediately if conditions change," the CORD news release explained, noting that it's still an active wildfire. "Smoke and fire suppression activities will continue to be visible."
The news came not long after the District of Summerland revealed that the evacuation order had been downgraded into an alert for residents of one South Okanagan neighbourhood -- Trout Creek, east of Hwy 97.
In the Central Okanagan, residents are asked not to lineup earlier than 6 pm, to avoid traffic congestion. Traffic control personnel will be on site at various locations in Peachland.
The Bald Range wildfire remains an estimated 19,891 hectares in size. Expect the BC Wildfire Service's next update to come Friday night.
(UPDATE: Aug. 14 @ noon) - The Bald Range wildfire in the Summerland area is now an estimated 19,891 hectares.
"Favorable overnight weather conditions allowed crews to make good progress with hand ignitions along the southern flank, helping secure control lines from east to west," explained an update from the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) late Friday morning.
It wasn't just ground crews working overnight, however, as two night-vision helicopter groups, consisting of six total choppers, supported them from above.
"Structure protection personnel and apparatus also continued operations on the ground throughout the night," the BCWS noted.
According to the BCWS, the shift in the wind over recent days has made conditions near Hwy 97 and Okanagan Lake favourable and suppression efforts are progressing well.
"Aerial scans continue to identify hotspots in this area and throughout Summerland, while ground crews continue mop-up operations," the update said.
The northwestern flank experienced the most fire activity on Thursday, particularly near the Princeton-Summerland Road corridor. Crews continue to plug away at containment objectives on the northern and southern flanks.
There is no shortage of resources tackling this fire, as the BCWS has 320 firefighting personnel on the ground split between day and night shifts, along with 114 structure protection personnel, 56 pieces of heavy equipment and 15 helicopters.
(UPDATE: Aug. 13 @ 9:20 pm) - The Bald Range wildfire saw increased fire activity today.
According to the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS), there was rank 3-4 fire behaviour observed due to clearer skies and variable wind conditions. That means "moderately-vigorous surface fire, torching and areas of passive crown fire."
Some of the most notable increased activity came to the west in the Shingle Creek area. The BCWS says crews used a combination of control lines to try and hold the fire. Growth was also experienced upslope to the west in the Princeton-Summerland Road area.
The BCWS adds that work done by air tankers in the Fish Lake Road area on Wednesday played a big role in helping hold the fire during today's increased activity. Suppression efforts will continue in this area overnight thanks to a pair of night-vision helicopters.
"Crews are also planning small-scale hand ignitions in the Shingle Creek Road area to remove unburned fuels and strengthen control lines," the BCWS' Thursday evening update explains.
During this latest update, the BCWS also offered some numbers to show people just how dry it is in Summerland and the surrounding communities.
Since July 1, the area that the Bald Range wildfire is burning in has only received 2 millimetres of rain. According to the BCWS, there has been "no measurable precipitation" since the start of August.
"The Drought Code, which is an indicator of moisture levels in deep organic layers and larger fuels, is currently above 1,000," the BCWS explained. "This is exceptionally high for this time of year, when a more typical Drought Code would be approximately 800."
While the increased fire activity very likely brought the Bald Range wildfire over 20,000 hectares today, the BCWS did not provide a new size estimate in Thursday's night's update.
On Thursday morning, DriveBC announced that Hwy 97 has reopened between the South and Central Okanagan, but there are several stipulations in place.
The highway will only be open from 7 am until 7 pm daily and DriveBC warns that the route could shut down at any time due to the fluid nature of the wildfire situation.
It's a through route only, which means stopping or exiting Hwy 97 at any time is not permitted. Speed reductions are in place and motorists should expect workers on or adjacent to the roadway.
For more information, click here.
(UPDATE: Aug. 13 @ 11:45 am) - The BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) has expanded its Thursday morning update regarding the Bald Range wildfire.
Work continues on the southern flank where the fire remains on the west side of both Mount Conkle and the ecological reserve. Heavy equipment has constructed around 40 km/h of machine guard in the area since Saturday, Aug. 8.
"In the northern portion of the fire, a hotspot northeast on Mt. Enas has been identified, and crews are working to suppress it," the BCWS explained. "Between Fenton Creek and Bull Creek, crews have established control line and water delivery systems between the transmission lines and Princeton-Summerland Road."
Heavy equipment continues to construct control lines and connect them with existing cut blocks in the higher terrain near Bald Range. Work is ongoing in the Fish Lake Road area as crews continue their direct attack on the fire.
Conditions on Thursday are expected to be similar to Wednesday, which produced around 700 hectares of growth on the incident. Once again, there's a chance of afternoon thunderstorm activity, along with gusty northeasterly winds.
"Thunderstorms can produce downdrafts and erratic winds, although the extent of this activity will depend in part on atmospheric conditions and the influence of smoke," the BCWS noted. "Northeasterly winds are expected to continue pushing smoke toward the Penticton area."
Key factors that could contribute to increased fire behaviour today, the BCWS says, are winds above 15 km/h, periods of clearer skies and atmospheric instability associated with potential thunderstorm activity.
(UPDATE: Aug. 13 @ 11 am) - A Thursday morning update from the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) reveals that the Bald Range wildfire is now 19,149 hectares.
That reflects a growth of 700 hectares since the BCWS last provided a size estimate. No further new information was shared by the BCWS in its Thursday morning update.
DriveBC has shared a big update, however, as Hwy 97 has partially reopened between the South and Central Okanagan, but there are several stipulations in place.
The highway will only be open from 7 am until 7 pm daily and DriveBC warns that the route could shut down at any time due to the fluid nature of the wildfire situation.
It's a through route only, which means stopping or exiting Hwy 97 at any time is not permitted. Speed reductions are in place and motorists should expect workers on or adjacent to the roadway.
For more information, click here.
(UPDATE: Aug. 12 @ 9:30 pm) - The BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) says the stormy weather has rolled in.
"Thunderstorm development has begun this evening over the northwestern portion of the fire," the BCWS explained in its Wednesday night update for the Bald Range wildfire.
"These cells can produce downdrafts and gusty, erratic winds, which could increase fire behaviour and challenge existing control lines."
According to the BCWS, fire behaviour this evening will largely depend on how much convective instability the thunderstorms bring, as more instability means windier conditions.
The update didn't reveal any specifics about fire activity throughout the day Wednesday, but the fire remains an estimated 18,450 hectares at this time.
Throughout the day, crews focused on objectives outlined in the morning update, which included backup contingency control lines that tie into the Trout Creek drainage and control lines toward the Garnet Valley Reservoir.
The BCWS says Thursday will bring north to northeasterly winds, similar to Wednesday, around 10 km/h. "There is the potential for an inversion in the morning, with convective activity possible again in the afternoon," the update added.
Honour to meet with some of the incredible BC Wildfire Service crew at the Penticton Wildfire Centre before their next deployment
— David Eby (@Dave_Eby) August 12, 2026
These brave men and women put themselves on the front lines to protect British Columbians. Their courage, and hard work deserve our deepest gratitude pic.twitter.com/nLaXO3Ww7U
Premier David Eby was in the South Okanagan today and met with local officials, firefighters, evacuees and others throughout the Penticton area before a press conference in the afternoon.
"To everyone who has been evacuated, who is under alert, who has lost property or who is living with uncertainty right now: know that you are not facing this alone. Our entire province stands with you," he said.
"We are incredibly grateful to the people on the front lines whose heroic efforts are protecting communities and saving lives, including those who have come from around the world to help."
He said many residents of Summerland and the surrounding rural areas talked to him about the challenges associated with such a sudden and dynamic evacuation.
The premier noted that the Province's main priorities are supporting evacuees and ensuring the BCWS has the resources it needs to battle the fire effectively on the front lines.
He said there are "challenging days ahead," but the Province "will continue to stand with you through this emergency and through the recovery."
The Province published an update on supports for evacuees earlier in the day.
While it's become very clear over recent days that evacuees won't be heading home soon, another evacuation alert was issued by the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen Wednesday afternoon.
It affects properties along Princeton-Summerland Road between the fire's west perimeter and Thirsk Lake, in Electoral Areas F and H. Click here for details.
Honour to meet with some of the incredible BC Wildfire Service crew at the Penticton Wildfire Centre before their next deployment
— David Eby (@Dave_Eby) August 12, 2026
These brave men and women put themselves on the front lines to protect British Columbians. Their courage, and hard work deserve our deepest gratitude pic.twitter.com/nLaXO3Ww7U
(UPDATE: Aug. 12 @ 12:15 pm) - An additional update late Wednesday morning has provided more information on the response to the Bald Range wildfire over the past 24 hours.
The BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) confirms the blaze "did not experience significant growth overnight due to calmer winds."
The increase of around 648 hectares brought the fire up to an estimated 18,450 hectares.
On Tuesday, firefighters worked to establish control lines along the southern flank, around Mount Conkle, working from east to west. Suppression efforts have kept the fire on the west side of Mount Conkle and the ecological reserve.
"Control lines, also known as fire guards, are areas where there is a change in fuel type such as a road, or where fuel is removed down to the mineral soil to help slow or stop the spread of a wildfire," the BCWS update explained.
"They can be constructed by hand or with heavy equipment, such as bulldozers and excavators, and may incorporate natural features such as lakes and roads. Control lines are a critical part of wildfire suppression because removing fuel helps limit the fire’s ability to spread."
On Wednesday, crews will continue to establish backup contingency control lines that tie into the Trout Creek drainage, which will provide an additional suppression option if increased fire activity challenges the primary control line.
Heavy equipment continues to work on the northern flank to establish east-to-west control lines toward the Garnet Lake Reservoir, while crews are also reinforcing structure protection and mopping up hotspots in areas that have already burned.
To the south, the mission for crews and heavy equipment continues to be establishing control lines working west to east.
"Today, winds are expected to be northeasterly, which will generally push smoke from the Bald Range wildfire to the south," the update noted. "Blue skies with patchy cloud are expected through the morning and afternoon, with cloud cover increasing later in the day."
Fire behaviour is expected to remain rank 2-3 with intermittent torching through the afternoon, but thunderstorm activity is possible around 5 pm. That could increase activity and result in a large smoke column.
"Fire behaviour later in the day will depend on the severity of convective instability associated with thunderstorms, which can produce downdrafts and erratic winds," the BCWS added. "Increasing cloud cover could help to off-set fire behaviour by reducing direct sunlight and daytime heating."
Premier David Eby will be in town today with Emergency Management Minister Kelly Greene, while DriveBC says an update on the currently-closed Hwy 97 is not expected until the weekend. More information on those tidbits is available in this morning's update below.
(UPDATE: Aug. 12 @ 10:20 am) - A new size estimate from the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) pegs the Bald Range wildfire at 18,450 hectares as of Wednesday morning.
There was no further information shared by the BCWS in this morning's update and the latest information can be read in Tuesday night's update below.
Premier David Eby and Emergency Management Minister Kelly Greene will be in Penticton today, according to Penticton-Summerland MLA Amelia Boultbee.
Premier David Eby and Minister Kelly Greene will be on the ground in Penticton today to support our communities.
— Amelia Boultbee MLA (@amboultbee) August 12, 2026
This is an important opportunity to connect with the local officials who have been leading this effort and hear directly from Summerland, Faulder, Meadow Valley, and…
"This is an important opportunity to connect with the local officials who have been leading this effort and hear directly from residents so we can assess how the Province can support our region," Boultbee wrote in a social media post.
"The Province has been working closely with the local governments and this visit will help strengthen that partnership...We’ll keep doing everything we can to help people through this."
Boultbee noted that there is still "a long way to go" as the community moves forward through this crisis and all levels of government will need to be working in lockstep.
Officials have stressed over recent days that residents are unfortunately not close to going home and evacuation orders will remain in effect for the foreseeable future.
Hwy 97 will also remain closed between the South and Central Okanagan for at least a few more days. DriveBC's next update on the route's status isn't expected until Saturday.
(UPDATE: Aug. 11 @ 10:15 pm) - With the number of firefighters more than doubling with 100 reinforcements from Mexico today, crews were able to make some positive progress on the Bald Range wildfire.
The BC Wildfire Service's (BCWS) Tuesday night update explained that one priority for crews today was building guard on the southern flank of the fire around Mount Conkle, working from east to west.
For now, the fire remains on the west side of Mount Conkle and west of the ecological reserve, and is "currently holding there due to suppression efforts.
"Crews have also established backup control lines that tie into the Trout Creek drainage in case the fire sees increased activity and can’t be held by the guard," the BCWS added.
On the northern flank, heavy equipment continues to work on control lines from east to west, which will work into the Garnet Lake reservoir. To the west, crews and heavy equipment continue to establish control lines from Meadow Valley Road.
The size estimate remains 17,802 hectares as of Tuesday night.
The BCWS also provided some commentary about what the next few days will look like with regards to the forecast and fire activity.
Westerly winds have primarily been pushing the fire and smoke east recently, but northerly winds are expected to take over for the next few days and that will push activity south.
According to the BCWS, there's also a chance of thunderstorm activity on Wednesday.
"Convective instability associated with thunderstorms could produce downdrafts and erratic winds, potentially increasing fire behaviour," the update noted, adding that "this is not guaranteed."
Less smoke is expected in the area and the BCWS has said over recent days that blue skies lead to increased wildfire activity due to more direct sun exposure.
"In the case of tomorrow, if smoke is less, we are anticipating more cloud, which will replace the loss of smoke and hopefully keep fire activity less active," the update explained.
"Based on the weather forecast, we are anticipating decreased fire behaviour on the northern flank for tomorrow."
While the battle on the front lines rages on and will continue over the days and weeks ahead, officials continue to tell residents that evacuation orders will not be lifted any time soon.
Speaking during a Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen briefing Tuesday night, Mayor Doug Holmes talked about why the return to the community isn't necessarily straightforward.
"What I tell people is that it's not under control yet. And until it's under control, it's unpredictable, it's volatile," he explained. "We know it's still burning within Summerland itself. It's expanding outside of Summerland, but it's also still burning in Summerland. The landfill is on fire, we know that."
The mayor added: "Until it's under control, we can't even think about going back in. And even then, we have to make sure it's safe. We have to make sure the infrastructure is safe. We have to make sure there aren't spot fires here and there. It will take time."
(UPDATE: Aug. 11 @ 10:30 am) - The BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) says it was another tough night on the Bald Range wildfire in the Summerland area.
A Tuesday morning update says clearer skies contributed to increased fire activity, while fuels remain "exceptionally dry and highly receptive to fire."
"Overnight recoveries were poor, meaning conditions did not allow forest fuels to regain much moisture overnight," the BCWS noted.
The fire is now an estimated 17,802 hectares in size.
Winds are expected to shift to northeasterly today before becoming northwesterly in the evening, with gusts up to 20 km/h before calmer conditions develop overnight.
A huge factor on the front lines today will be smoke coverage. According to the BCWS, heavy smoke can reduce visibility and limit aviation operations, but it can also moderate fire behaviour by blocking out direct sunlight.
Atmospheric instability expected over the next two days will influence how smoke from wildfires to the west moves across the region.
More smoke settling over the Bald Range wildfire could help moderate fire behaviour, while the opposite is true if smoke leaves the valley.
Firefighters will receive a major boost today thanks to the arrival of 100 Mexican personnel, which will more than double the number of ground crews assigned on the incident to 193.
"Crews will continue establishing contingency lines in the Fish Lake and Meadow Valley areas and working to re-establish an anchor point following yesterday’s fire activity," the BCWS explained.
"Heavy equipment will continue constructing control lines; yesterday, crews established more than 14 kilometers of machine guard."
Firefighters, structure protection personnel, heavy equipment and helicopters will continue to work throughout the area, with crews assessing impacts as conditions safely allow.
"Confirmed information regarding structural impacts will be shared by the appropriate regional districts and local authorities as it becomes available," said the BCWS.
(UPDATE: Aug. 10 @ 10 pm) - It was another day of growth for the Bald Range wildfire around Summerland.
How much growth is not yet clear, as the BC Wildfire Service has unable to map out a new overall size estimate. However, the Monday evening update stated that perimeter growth ranged from 500 metres to 2 kilometres, fuelled by increased winds from the northeast.
There won't be a great deal of reprieve overnight, as the BCWS indicates that westerly downslope winds will push parts of the fire east and gusts up to 25 km/h are expected.
As a result, the aerial suppression efforts will continue throughout the night courtesy of night-vision helicopters, which will aid firefighters and structure protection personnel on the ground.
"Crews worked throughout the Garnet drainage system, securing and reinforcing fireguard. Firefighters also worked in the southern region of the fire near the golf course, tying into Kettle Valley Road," the update explained.
"Fire remained active in the Trout Creek area, with spotting observed toward Mount Conkle. Crews responded to and worked in these areas. Increased fire activity was observed in the Fish Valley area, where crews actioned several areas of concern."
A positive from Monday's firefighting efforts was that the smoke cleared enough at times for skimmers to support operations along the northwestern flank. Heavy equipment was able to construct around 14 km of machine guard, while crews continued to establish and reinforce hand guards throughout the fire zone.
While the Monday morning size estimate of 15,590 hectares remains the latest data available, the BCWS will likely provide a new and increased number on Tuesday.
Evacuees hoping to return to their homes received some tough news on Monday night, as officials revealed during a press conference that the Bald Range wildfire is still very much an active incident.
That means the focus continues to be solely on fire response, which means evacuation orders for thousands of properties will remain in place indefinitely at this time.
Graham Statt, the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen's Emergency Operations Centre director, said the road to recovery, for many, is "going to be a long one."
Once it's safe to gain entry to some of the areas that suffered the most damage, assessments will be completed and plans will begin to be formed for a phased re-entry.
Information for evacuees, including how to apply for a temporary access permit to an evacuated area, was released earlier in the day.
Officials also explained that Hwy 97 will remain closed between the South and Central Okanagan for the foreseeable future. The fire got close to Hwy 97 on Sunday night and westerly winds are expected to push it that way once again over the coming hours.
With it becoming apparent that evacuees should be planning to be out of their home for a lengthier amount of time, the Government of BC also released a statement on Monday regarding supports.
According to the Province, over 1,000 hotel rooms have been booked up in Penticton, West Kelowna and Kelowna to accommodate evacuees. Ground lodging also remains available throughout the Okanagan with nearly 1,000 beds set up.
Those needing assistance to find an available hotel room or a referral to group lodging should visit one of two reception centres -- the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre in Penticton or the Westbank Lions Community Hall in West Kelowna.
The Province added that it continues to work with the tourism and hospitality sector, the federal government and other partners to secure additional accommodation. Additional hotel rooms will be booked as they become available and the Province thanked people who are changing their travel plans to support evacuees.
Of course, anyone who is evacuated and able to stay with friends and family is asked to do so.
(UPDATE: Aug. 10 @ 10 am) - The Bald Range wildfire has grown another 2,000 hectares.
The BC Wildfire Service's Monday morning update says the blaze is now 15,590 hectares in size, up from 13,618 hectares it was mapped at Sunday morning.
While the forecasted ridge-top wind gusts of 40-50 km/h didn't quite materialize, the fire still experienced around 1-1.5 kilometres of growth on the northwestern and southern portions Sunday night.
Today, a similar wind pattern is expected, as they will shift to north/northeasterly this morning before becoming westerly this evening.
"Atmospheric instability is expected to push smoke from the Brunswick Creek wildfire northward, meaning smoke observed over the Bald Range wildfire should primarily be from the Bald Range fire itself," the update explained.
While that means a chance of better visibility, clearer conditions will also lead to more heat from direct sun and increased fire behaviour.
Overall, the BCWS is expecting similar growth today to what was experienced Sunday.
Crews continue to work in the Trout Creek drainage area as they attempt to keep the fire on the south side of the drainage. Structure protection personnel are working throughout the community.
"Crews are also mopping up previously burned areas to reduce the potential for reburns," the update added. "On the southern portion of the fire, crews and heavy equipment will continue establishing contingency line near Summerland Golf Course and tying it into Kettle Valley Road.
An incident management team is leading operations on the Bald Range wildfire, which includes 94 firefighters, 120 structure protection personnel, eight helicopters and 25 pieces of heavy equipment.
While the fire still rages on, the community is now more than two days removed from the nightmarish firestorm that forced the evacuation of several thousand homes on Friday night.
Since it's still a very-much-active incident, it will still be some time before official news is given about structural loss in the Summerland area, but people have started to take to social media to share their own tales of devastation.
That includes Ashley Tite, who explained in a social media post Sunday night that she refused to believe they had lost everything until she got visual confirmation.
"We just received it. We lost everything," she said in a Facebook post that shared four photos of her charred property. "We have 15 minutes to evacuate. We got out with our pets and minimal else."
Tite called the fire "her worst nightmare" and said her family is currently staying at Big White.
Owners of What The Fungus, a seasonal mushroom in the Garnet Valley, also shared their loss on social media.
"We lost our farm this week to the Bald Range wildfire," the post said. "Twelve years in Summerland ended in rubble in a matter of hours. It's a lot to take in."
(UPDATE: Aug. 9 @ 10:15 pm) - It's going to be a difficult night for firefighters on the front lines.
That's the message from the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) in its Sunday evening update regarding the Bald Range wildfire that continues to burn in the Summerland area.
"Increasing winds are expected to result in highly-vigorous surface fire with intermittent torching tonight," the update explains. "Winds of 10–20 km/h are expected in valley bottoms, with gusts of 40–50 km/h forecast at ridge tops."
It adds that winds have now shifted from easterly to westerly, which means that they are blowing from west to east.
A highly-vigorous surface fire with intermitted torching is rank 4 behaviour, which was only seen in small pockets of the fire's northeast on Sunday. Most of the fire was displaying rank 2 and 3 behaviour throughout the day.
"A key focus remains the drainage between Fish Lake and Garnet Valley where crews are working to limit further fire growth and reduce impacts to structures," the update continues.
"Overnight tonight, wildfire and structural protection crews will continue structure protection and structure defense, working in community areas between Fish Lake and Garnet Valley as well as around the Summerland Golf Course."
Unfortunately, air tankers were only able to drop a couple of lines earlier today before they were grounded by poor visibility. The majority of Sunday's aerial support came from bucketing helicopters.
Although the BCWS has not changed the fire's size estimate from this morning's 13,618 hectares, that is due to not being able to get an updated mapping as opposed to a lack of growth.
(UPDATE: Aug. 9 @ 5:50 pm) - What was believed to be true on Saturday has now been confirmed.
The Bald Range wildfire was fatal on Friday evening as it aggressively swept through the rural area west of Summerland.
According to police, an 80-year-old woman was killed while trying to leave her home in Meadow Valley, a rural area just west of Summerland, alongside a member of her family.
"Police believe her death to be a result of the wildfire," noted an RCMP release, which added that the first report of the potential death came from a witness also evacuating the area.
The BC Coroners Service is conducting an investigation to confirm the nature of the woman's death.
“This wildfire has been a deeply traumatic event for all those in the region," said RCMP Supt. Beth McAndie. "Our thoughts are with this family, who are now grappling with the loss of their loved one."
McAndie said officers are working closely with the impact family and providing full supports to them. They've asked for privacy at this time and no further details will be released by the RCMP.
The BC Wildfire Service's last update on the Bald Range wildfire was Sunday morning when it was revealed that the blaze grew to 13,618 hectares overnight.
An update regarding Sunday's firefighting efforts and any potential growth will likely be shared before the end of the day.
(UPDATE: Aug. 9 @ 11:20 am) - The Bald Range wildfire has grown to 13,618 hectares, up over 3,000 hectares from its size estimate Saturday evening.
In a Sunday morning update, the BC Wildfire Service (BCQWS) says there was "increased fire behaviour overnight," particularly to the south and in the areas of Fish Lake and Garnet Valley roads.
Today isn't expected to be any easier, with the update noting that crews are bracing for "challenging" conditions due to shifting winds.
"Light upslope easterly winds are forecasted to develop this morning before shifting to brisk westerlies later in the day and continuing overnight," the BCWS explains .
"If skies clear, fire behaviour will increase significantly due to the breaking of an inversion and resulting in increased winds."
The update add: "Fuels remain exceptionally dry and require very little wind to transition fire from the surface into the crowns of trees."
While limited resources were stretched thin as the wildfire went from a new start to a behemoth in a matter of hours on Friday night, reinforcements have arrived in large numbers over the weekend.
The BCWS says additional firefighters, structure protection personnel, heavy equipment and air resources continue to be mobilized, with a focus on limiting spread and protecting communities and critical infrastructure.
"Crews continue to establish control lines and support structure defence and protection where needed. A key focus is the drainage between Fish Lake and Garnet Valley, where crews are working to limit further fire growth and reduce impacts to structures," says the BCWS update.
"Firefighters are anchoring off the lake and progressing westward, taking advantage of the current wind conditions. On the south end of the fire, crews are likely to face challenging conditions as fire behaviour increases throughout the day."
Helicopters and air tankers are supporting the work on the ground when possible, but the BCWS notes that smoke and poor visibility have limited those operations at times and that may continue.
Crews and local authorities are working to assess the destruction as conditions allow, with confirmed information about structural losses expected to be shared by officials as it comes available.
Utility providers like BC Hydro and FortisBC are responding to downed power lines and other impacts to critical infrastructure.
The District of Summerland said Sunday morning that it was formulating a plan for a phased re-entry to the community.
(UPDATE: Aug. 8 @ 6 pm) - The Bald Range wildfire displayed some of the most dynamic fire behaviour the province has ever seen on Friday night.
Now, it appears as though the fast-moving and destructive wildfire may have been fatal.
The RCMP says it's aware of one "impacted resident" from the Meadow Valley who has been reported as a possible fatality. Meadow Valley is north of where the fire started around 5:30 pm Friday.
Police are working alongside the BC Coroners Service to confirm the fatality amid hazarous conditions and officers are in close contact with the impacted family.
Otherwise, the RCMP says that evacuations of entire neighbourhoods and community were "largely successful," but obviously came with challenges in areas that were cut off by wildfire.
Officials revealed Friday night that 55 people needed to be airlifted from the wildfire zone after being trapped by the fast-moving blaze.
According to the BC Wildfire Service, the Bald Range wildfire has surpassed the 10,000 mark and is now estimated at 10,340.7 hectares in size.
No new evacuation orders have been issued since the early hours of Saturday morning, but the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen did expand the evacuation alert zone right up to Penticton this afternoon.
"The City of Penticton is aware that the evacuation alert area for Bald Range wildfire has been extended to the edge of the City's boundaries," noted a City of Penticton statement.
"While there is no immediate risk to Penticton residents, the City is encouraging people to stay informed and take steps to be prepared should conditions change."
The City noted that the wildfire situation is understandably stressful for residents, but officials are monitoring it closely and will provide updates as needed through official channels.
(UPDATE: Aug. 8 @ 1:15 pm) - The Bald Range wildfire near Summerland remains an estimated 9,500 hectares.
Early Saturday afternoon, the BC government declared a state of emergency due to the escalating wildfire situation.
The destructive and powerful blaze near Summerland appears to have been the final straw, as it has forced thousands of people from their homes in the South and Central Okanagan. That includes a full evacuation of Summerland, a community of around 12,000 people, which was ordered shortly after midnight Saturday.
Penticton Mayor Julius Bloomfield said "a rush of 10,000 people" have flooded into the city as they flee the wildfire to the northwest. While he admitted it was a night of challenges, he also said he's seen an "outpour of support" for the evacuees.
While fire behaviour calm a bit on the fire Saturday morning, the BC Wildfire Service expects activity to pick up in the latter half of the day. Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen communications manager Erick Thompson urged people to be prepared for that.
Evacuees heading south can register at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre, while those heading north are being told to go to the Westbank Lions Community Centre or Royal LePage Place.
(UPDATE: Aug. 8 @ 10:45 am) - As the Bald Range wildfire roared on throughout the night, personnel worked diligently to evacuate thousands of people from the area and deploy structure protection apparatus.
While there were ground personnel battling the blaze overnight, firefighting activities increased with additional resources as the sun rose on Saturday. Crews are trying to make progress on suppression efforts in the slightly more favourably conditions.
According to the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS), the fire is displaying rank 2 and 3 behaviour this morning, down from aggressive rank 5 behaviour Friday night, but "fire behaviour will increase throughout the day as temperatures increase."
The BCWS says light winds are forecast until this evening and will be out of the west-northwest, which will drive fire growth to the southeast. At this time, increased activity is happening on the fire's south flank near Shingle Creek.
"Today, additional firefighters, structure protection personnel, fire departments, heavy equipment and aircraft are being mobilized," the latest BCWS update says.
"Helicopters and air tankers will be used for various objectives including water and suppressant delivery, and reconnaissance as conditions allow. Smoke and visibility may present challenges for aircraft."
The latest size estimate for the fire is 9,500 hectares. The BCWS says fire perimeters and size updates are obtained by personnel on the ground or air and will be reflected on the BCWS map as the fire's edge is tracked.
"Visibility and heavy smoke impacted aircraft’s ability to obtain a full perimeter yesterday and we are working to get that information as soon as possible," the update notes.
Evacuation orders and alerts remain in place for well over 10,000 homes along the west side of Okanagan Lake, including the entire community of Summerland and parts of Peachland.
Officials announced around 10 am that the Saturday of Penticton Peach Fest has been cancelled due to the emergency situation in the South Okanagan.
Hwy 97 remains closed between the South and Central Okanagan and DriveBC advises using the 201 Forest Service Road on the east side of the lake as a bypass if needed.
Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen communications manager Erick Thompson will be hosting a livestream throughout the day to provide updates on the fire situation as they come in. The video will stay live all day, but Thompson, who was evacuated from his home in Summerland, will be on and off screen as he's available.
(UPDATE: Aug. 8 @ 8:15 am) - The BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) has provided an updated size estimate for the Bald Range wildfire Saturday morning.
It's now an estimated 9,500 hectares as it continued to grow overnight, even in calmer conditions. Nowlin Kazimir, who was in town helping evacuate animals, reported around 2:30 am that the fire had moved into the community of Summerland.
Around two hours before that, an X user shared video showing that the fire had jumped Hwy 97 in Summerland. The highway was shut down around 1 am.
@Kamscan very rare time. I'm holding my phone while driving, but it has jumped the highway in Summerland. pic.twitter.com/0HIinaTtpn
— Rents (@Nrenton) August 8, 2026
There was a steady stream of traffic heading from Summerland to Penticton throughout the night after an evacuation order was issued for the entire community of Summerland at 12:10 am.
At 1:45 am, the Central Okanagan Emergency Management (CORD) expanded its evacuation order further into Peachland. An additional evacuation alerts was issued by CORD at 3:35 am.
Interior Health was also busy overnight, working to relocate 238 seniors from the Dr. Andrew Pavillion and Summerland Seniors Village.
The BCWS update this morning did not provide any new information about the fire's behaviour overnight, but it did offer a first glimpse at the fire perimeter.
(UPDATE: Aug. 8 @ 1 am) - As the calendar flips from Friday to Saturday, the news continues to get worse on the Bald Range wildfire.
Shortly after midnight, the District of Summerland issued an evacuation order for the entire community. Summerland has a population of 12,000 people.
A notice from the District says the Bald Creek wildfire "is a significant threat to the health, safety and welfare of persons."
It adds: "An evacuation and controlling travel is necessary to minimize threats."
The evacuation route is Hwy 97, likely south to Penticton where an Emergency Support Services centre is open at 550 Eckhart Avenue West. However, West Kelowna is also an option and evacuees can go to the Westbank Lions Community Hall at 2466 Main St.
The District has activated the siren on the fire hall to notify residents of the community-wide evacuation order, as it comes essentially in the middle of the night as many are asleep.
Members of the RCMP, search and rescue, and the BC Wildfire Service are providing assistance to expedite the action.
For more information, click here.
(UPDATE: Aug. 7 @ 10:45 pm) - The winds have died down significantly, but the destructive Bald Range wildfire continues to roar.
Shortly after 10 pm, the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) shared its first detailed update about what officials are calling one of the fastest-moving wildfires the region has ever seen.
After being discovered around 5:30 pm, the blaze displayed "aggressive and extreme" rank 5 behaviour as it quickly grew into an inferno that was last estimated at 5,000 hectares.
"The fire remains very active and it continues to present increased fire behaviour," the BCWS update says. "Growth is anticipated overnight."
According to the BCWS, crews were on the fire quickly after it was discovered, but they were no match for its rapid growth.
"Ongoing hot and dry weather has made the forest fuels incredibly receptive to ignition," the update notes. "The conditions, combined with elevated gusty winds out of the southwest, resulted in rapid growth of wildfire to the northeast."
As winds carried embers up to a kilometre ahead of the fire's main body, air tankers worked to drop retardant along the east flank in an effort to protect structures closer to Summerland.
Unfortunately, the BCWS says, "winds accelerated and fire behaviour became volatile," eventually compromising the safety and efficiency of the aircraft.
Helicopters were called into action not only to bucket the fire, but also to evacuate over 50 people who had become trapped by the flames in the Faulder area.
The situation in Faulder appears to be devastating, with photos and videos on social media showing widespread destruction of homes.
The Regional District of Central Okanagan and Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen both have evacuation orders and alerts in place, ranging from the Summerland area all the way up north toward Peachland.
More information on those evacuation notices can be found here and here.
(UPDATE: Aug. 7 @ 9 pm) - The wildfire that sparked west of Summerland earlier this evening has blown up to 5,000 hectares in size.
Evacuation orders have been issued by both the Regional District of Central Okanagan and Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen. Both agencies have evacuation alerts in place as well, which can be viewed here and here.
Emergency officials have also asked that people stay away from Summerland, while encouraging those who feel threatened by the fast-moving fire to not necessarily wait for an evacuation order to leave.
For those familiar with Faulder and the junction for the road to Princeton this is the current situation. Thoughts are with local residents and all of our first responders. pic.twitter.com/hL7ROBcnby
— Dan Albas (@DanAlbas) August 8, 2026
Now called the Bald Creek wildfire, it was discovered around 5:30 pm around 15 kilometres west of Summerland.
It has since encroached significantly on both Summerland and Peachland, but the BC Wildfire Service has not shared an updated fire perimeter.
Photos and videos shared to social media show that several structures have been destroyed, including many in the Faulder area, and the picture will become clearer on that over the coming days.
An Emergency Support Services reception center was originally set up in Summerland, but has since moved to 550 Eckhart Avenue West in Penticton.
Hwy 97 remains open between the Central and South Okanagan at this time.
(UPDATE: Aug. 7 @ 7:30 pm) - The wildfire has quickly become a massive incident, as the BC Wildfire Service has just provided a size estimate update of 1,000 hectares.
(Original story: Aug. 7 @ 7 pm) - A new, fast-moving wildfire has made its presence known west of Summerland this evening.
The fire sparked along the Princeton-Summerland back road, a few kilometres west of the municipality, and has quickly grown in size.
The latest BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) update pegs it at 400 hectares.
"The fire is displaying aggressive rank 4 and 5 fire behaviour, meaning an organized flame front with a fast rate of spread and short-range spotting," the BCWS explained. "Rapid growth is expected due to gusty westerly winds."
Westerly winds mean they are blowing in from the west, which would push the fire east toward the community.
Environment Canada predicts winds around 20 km/h for the next few hours, with gusts up to 40 km/h, before things calm down before midnight.
Tactical evacuations are underway in the area and the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen says official evacuation notices are coming soon.
According to the BCWS, ground personnel, aviation resources and structure protection personnel have all been assigned to the incident.
NowMedia will update this story as it develops.
