- The Bald Range wildfire sparked along Princeton-Summerland Road northwest of Summerland in the late afternoon of Aug. 7.
- The fire has grown to 5,000 hectares within hours, prompting tactical evacuations.
- Evacuee Jeff Kilpatrick filmed flames along the road while escaping on Friday night.
- Evacuation orders have been issued for areas including Faulder, Garnet Valley, and parts of Peachland.
- The regional district warns of aggressive rank-five behavior with long-range spotting.
- Evacuations are underway as the fire poses an immediate threat to life and safety.
- The fire has been described as one of the quickest-moving, fastest-growing fires the area has ever seen.
- The evacuations come about a week after the Bradley Creek fire destroyed about 230 homes on the Okanagan Indian Band reserve.
The Bald Range wildfire near Summerland, B.C., has exploded to 5,000 hectares since its detection on Friday afternoon, prompting immediate evacuations from Summerland to Peachland. Eyewitness Jeff Kilpatrick captured the flames engulfing the area as he fled, stating, "I was surrounded by flames."145
The fire, first reported at 5:30 p.m., has grown to 50 square kilometres in just three hours, with officials describing it as one of the quickest-moving, fastest-growing fires in the region's history. Erick Thompson from the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen's emergency operations centre emphasized the fire's aggressive rank-five behaviour, indicating a rapidly advancing flame front and long-range spotting that could ignite new fires.69
Evacuation orders have been issued for areas including Brent Road, Log Chute Road, and Faulder, with residents urged to leave immediately due to the significant risk to life. Evacuees are directed to seek shelter at designated locations in Penticton and Westbank. This wildfire follows the recent Bradley Creek fire, which destroyed approximately 230 homes and displaced thousands.10
Officials continue to monitor the situation closely, urging residents to prioritize their safety and evacuate without delay.
“The fire was first detected at 5:30 p.m. Friday and grew to 50 square kilometers in about three hours, with Erick Thompson calling it one of the 'quickest-moving, fastest-growing' fires the area has seen. Evacuees can head to 550 Eckhardt Avenue West in Penticton or Westbank Lions Hall, and those unable to evacuate should call 911.”
Abbotsford News
The Globe and Mail
