Evacuation Orders remain across Okanagan fires, 20,000 flee Summerland blaze

1 p.m. Saturday

Firefighters continue to battle blazes in the Okanagan that have forced people from their homes.

On Friday evening a wildfire sparked northeast of Summerland that quickly spread overnight to an estimated 9,500 hectares in size as of time of publication.

Evacuation orders include all of Summerland’s 12,000 population and about 8,000 others in parts of Peachland and surrounding rural areas.

The Bald Range fire triggered Evacuation Orders for all of Summerland and parts of Peachland.

Bald Range Wildfire update

Fire behaviour did decrease by the early morning Saturday, however, the fire remains active and is currently displaying rank 2 and 3 fire behaviour according to an update from BC Wildfire Service. Increased activity is being experienced on the fire’s south flank near Shingle Creek. Fire behaviour will increase throughout the day as temperatures increase. Light winds are forecast until this evening. Winds will be out of the west-northwest, driving growth of the fire to the southeast.

Today, additional firefighters, structure protection personnel, fire departments, heavy equipment and aircraft are being mobilized. Helicopters and airtankers will be used for various objectives including values protection, water and suppressant delivery, and reconnaissance as conditions allow. Smoke and visibility may present challenges for aircraft. 

Bradley Creek and Quilpituk Wildfires

Meanwhile, the Bradley Creek fire at the north end of the Okanagan Indian Band lands and the Quilpituk Creek fire south of Fintry remained estimated at 2,853 and 1,139 hectares, respectively.

Bradley Creek Evacuation Orders were downgraded to Alerts for the east side of Okanagan Lake by the OKIB Friday, but people were still urged to be ready to leave their homes should the fire begin to spread again.

As of time of publication, the following B.C. Wildfire Service resources were assigned to the blazes:

• Bradley and Quilpituk Creeks:
  • 138 firefighters
  • An Incident Management Team
  • 12 helicopters
  • 44 pieces of heavy equipment
  • 111 structural protection personnel
• Bald Range:
  • Local and provincial firefighters
  • Helicopters
  • Structure protection personnel
  • Heavy equipment

The BCWS did not specify exact numbers for its response to the fire near Summerland.

For all three fires the BCWS were working with local fire departments to battle the blazes.

People under Evacuation Orders were urged to leave the areas immediately due to potential health and safety risks.