PENTICTON – On a celebratory occasion for her niece's 21st birthday in Summerland, British Columbia, Dawn Wertz experienced an alarming situation as ashes, approximately the size of loonies, began to fall at her sister’s home. This incident occurred amidst escalating wildfire activity that forced thousands of residents to evacuate their homes as the blaze approached numerous communities along the western side of Okanagan Lake.
The Bald Range fire dramatically expanded its size to over 100 square kilometers on Saturday, although it has shown limited growth since then. The fire’s halt in expansion can be attributed to geographical factors, with much of the fire front reaching Okanagan Lake. Additionally, the swift response from the BC Wildfire Service crews has been crucial in establishing containment lines and safeguarding homes located on the outskirts of Summerland, which has a population of approximately 12,000.
Authorities from the RCMP are currently investigating reports of a potential fatality related to the fire west of Summerland. The B.C. government has acknowledged "significant structure loss" as a result of the blaze and declared a provincial state of emergency on Saturday due to the dire circumstances.
Wertz, originally from Summerland but currently residing in Red Deer, Alberta, recounted how her relatives witnessed flames consuming a mountain late on Friday evening, prompting them to gather family photos and vital documents before fleeing south towards Penticton. She noted, “The ashes were falling on us when we were outside for the party. They were loonie-sized, and that was when it was only 50 hectares,” referring to the fire’s scale around 7:15 p.m. on Friday.
A social media statement from the Interior Wildlife Rehabilitation Society revealed that their facility in Summerland was overtaken by the fire at an alarming speed, allowing only time for staff to escape with their own pets along with animals under their care. The organization shared that they observed the flames consuming their compound through security cameras before losing power and seeing everything go dark.
In just a few hours, the fire grew to 50 square kilometers, subsequently doubling in size as it advanced within a 15-kilometer reach to Summerland. As a result, approximately 10,000 homes are now under evacuation orders, which extend across Summerland, Peachland, the regional districts of Okanagan-Similkameen and Central Okanagan, as well as Penticton Indian Band lands. Furthermore, an additional 3,300 homes are under evacuation alerts reaching south past Penticton's western outskirts.
A perimeter map released by the BC Wildfire Service indicated that the fire claimed many homes as it moved toward the waterline north of Summerland. Social media footage captured various homes ablaze while residents fled, depicting ominous fire conditions on both sides of the road. Emergency services also reported that firefighting helicopters were redirected to rescue over 50 individuals trapped by the advancing flames.
Anette Boulet, a Summerland resident, described the scene at the Penticton evacuation center, stating that the fire “looked like doomsday” as it approached. She and her family managed to escape around 4:30 a.m. Saturday, struggling through thick smoke that compromised visibility. Boulet shared the gripping fear of the situation, saying, “You couldn’t see barely. It was just dark, and the ridge, the ridge of fire just coming towards you.”
The BC Wildfire Service continues to investigate the cause of this devastating fire, as the situation remains critical for the affected communities and residents in the region.
