- The 5,000 hectare Bald Ridge wildfire has reached Highway 97 and is burning down Cartwright Mountain above Summerland's Upper Town.
- Fifty-five people were airlifted to safety via helicopter from the Faulder area as the fire approached.
- The entire District of Summerland, population 12,000, has been ordered to evacuate; a state of emergency is declared.
- Evacuation orders have expanded into Peachland, affecting properties on Brenda Mine Road and in the Renfrew and Upper Princeton areas.
- Evacuees are directed to the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre at 273 Power Street.
- The Emergency Support Services (ESS) reception centre has been moved to 550 Eckhart Avenue West in Penticton.
- The Bald Ridge wildfire is straddling jurisdictions, with evacuation orders and alerts issued by multiple regional districts.
- The fire is displaying rank 5 fire behaviour, with an organized flame front and fast rate of spread.
The entire District of Summerland, with a population of 12,000, has been ordered to evacuate as the Bald Ridge wildfire, now covering 5,000 hectares, threatens the area and has reached Highway 97.
Evacuation orders have also been issued for Peachland, affecting homes on Brenda Mine Road and in the Renfrew and Upper Princeton areas, previously under alert.
The Central Okanagan Regional District has mandated evacuations in the Brent Road area, directing residents northward.
“This fire continued to grow rapidly this evening, displaying aggressive and extreme fire behaviour,” officials reported, noting a rank 5 fire behavior with a fast rate of spread.
Winds have been carrying embers up to a kilometer ahead of the fire, exacerbating the situation.
Fifty-five people were airlifted to safety from the Faulder area as the wildfire approached.
Evacuees are being directed to the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre, while the District of Summerland has declared a state of emergency.
The Emergency Support Services reception center has been relocated to Penticton at 550 Eckhart Avenue West from Summerland.
The Bald Ridge wildfire is straddling jurisdictions, prompting multiple regional districts to issue their own evacuation orders and alerts throughout the night.
“The 5,000-hectare fire is displaying rank 5 behaviour, throwing embers up to a kilometre ahead, and has prompted a state of emergency. Fifty-five people were airlifted from the Faulder area, and evacuees are directed to the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre.”
