‘It looked like a war zone’: Bradley Creek Wildfire

The damage from the Bradley Creek wildfire is becoming clearer as the Okanagan Indian Band begins the long road to recovery.

On a video media call Tuesday, Chief Dan Wilson said a helicopter tour of the burned area Monday showed just how much of the community was impacted. He says preliminary estimates suggest about 30 band homes and around 200 homes on leased land within the reserve may have been destroyed. Those numbers still need to be confirmed through official assessments.

Wilson said seeing the damage from the air was difficult.

“It was like like a war zone. It was hard to recognize my community from the air with all the structures and the forests gone. I’m kind of in shock. It really hasn’t sunk in yet. Everything still feels kind of surreal for me and for my community.”

Wilson said the fire moved so quickly that some residents had only minutes to escape.

“The fire spread so fast that some of our members only had five minutes to evacuate when those heavy winds came up. It took off so fast that some of our members only had five minutes, if that, to get out.”

Many people left without basic belongings, including clothing and identification, creating challenges when they arrived at evacuation centres.

Wilson said there was some good news. Fire crews were able to save several important community spaces, including the Okanagan Indian Band’s new cultural immersion school, the powwow grounds and the daycare.

“We’re so proud of our cultural immersion school. The water bombers were able to douse the area around our school and powwow ground, so they were able to save that.”

BC Wildfire Service said crews continue to work on containment, protecting structures and dealing with hotspots. Fire Centre Manager Jeffrey Dunn says firefighters from across the province and beyond have been working around the clock.

“Our main priority is to ensure that first responder safety is paramount, and that we are getting these control lines in place so that when we do see that weather increase, we’re going to be able to hold those lines.”

As the fire fight continues, officials are also preparing for the recovery phase and helping evacuees.

Andrew Morrison, Director of Regional Response with Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, says the province is working with the Okanagan Indian Band and regional partners to support those who have been displaced.

“We’ve been supporting the Okanagan Indian Band leadership and the evacuees from the Okanagan Indian Band that are dispersed throughout the Okanagan.”

Morrison says officials will help coordinate the return home once areas are safe.

“Once the area is deemed safe, we will be working with the Okanagan Indian Band staff and leadership to help coordinate their potential re-entry and any supports that they need.”

Wilson said rebuilding will take time, but the priority is supporting families and bringing the community back together.

“This wildfire has no doubt changed our community. There will be difficult days ahead. Recovery won’t happen overnight, but our focus remains the same as it was on day one… protect people, support families, and rebuild our community one step at a time.”