In brief
The Bald Range wildfire erupted Friday in the Okanagan region of British Columbia, expanding to 53 square miles before officials could control it. Residents like Earl Kurz, a 30‑year‑old Peachland homeowner, now face uncertain whether their houses remain standing. Teenager Keegan Radomski has fled her family home and cannot yet determine if it survived the blaze. Over 12,000 people remain under evacuation orders, and officials have yet to confirm the number of homes lost. The fire highlights the growing threat of wildfires in the region, driven by drought and rising temperatures linked to climate change.
On Friday a small fire in the Bellingham Mountains spiraled into a massive blaze that rapidly spread across 53 square miles in the Okanagan region of British Columbia.
Earl Kurz, a longtime Peachland resident, says the fire left no living places where dreams were built, a stark change from the 10 years he had learned to live with wildfire threats.
Teenager Keegan Radomski fled her family home as the flames surged, still unsure if the property survived and unable to return to assess the damage.
Officials have not yet confirmed how many homes were lost, and the fire remains uncontained as of Monday. More than 12,000 residents are still under evacuation orders, and an 80‑year‑old woman died while trying to flee the blaze.
The destruction reflects a broader trend of increasingly intense wildfires in the region, driven by ongoing drought and higher temperatures linked to climate change, adding a stark reminder of the fragility of communities today.
