In brief
A fast-moving wildfire, now over 36 square miles, swept through the Summerland and Okanagan‑Similkameen districts. Authorities ordered over 20,000 people to evacuate as the blaze expanded, with power failing across the area. Emergency official Erick Thompson left the operations centre after securing his family. The disaster also posed challenges for horse owners, many of whom struggled to evacuate their animals. The Canadian government is assessing damage while mobilizing resources to contain the fire.
The rapid spread of the Bald Range wildfire turned a quiet region of British Columbia into a crisis zone. Reports say the fire has grown to more than 36 square miles (95 square kilometres), putting into upheaval the Summerland and Okanagan‑Similkameen districts.
When the flames began on Friday, emergency officials warned that the fire was a quick mover, with the population of Summerland—about 12,000 people—and around 8,000 residents from neighbouring Peachland forced to evacuate. City officials reported power outages for the entire town on Saturday morning.
Over the weekend, Regional District emergency chief Erick Thompson said he had to leave the emergency operations centre to rescue his family. “I had to leave the EOC to come and get my family to leave this area. We’re heading south,” he told reporters, underscoring the rapid escalation of the situation.
While the blaze raged, many local horse owners found it difficult to evacuate their animals. Some left the homes without their mounts, hoping the animals would find safety on their own, while others marked their horses with distinctive identifiers to aid in later recovery efforts.
The casualty count for structures remains unclear, but the constantly spreading fire has already consumed large swaths of forest and residential area. Departments are currently working to contain the fire and mitigate damage as the community braces for the next stage of the crisis.
