- The blaze was first reported at 5:30 p.m. Friday, but it exploded in size, burning 50 square kilometres in a few hours.
- Officials have not tallied destruction from the fire that erupted late Friday, but the flame front overwhelmed the smaller community of Faulder as the Bald Range wildfire closed the 15-kilometre distance to Summerland in a matter of a few hours.
- Evacuation orders cover the entire community of Summerland, population 12,000, while a further 8,000 were told to flee in and around Peachland, both on the western shore of the lake in the B.C. Interior.
- Roads south from Summerland toward Penticton were jammed with evacuees after the order for the entire community to flee came down at midnight, followed by expanded orders covering communities north toward Peachland.
- More than 20,000 residents have been forced to evacuate British Columbia communities near Okanagan Lake overnight as an explosive wildfire surged towards them, destroying homes in its path.
- Social media videos showed multiple homes ablaze as residents fled, with fire on both sides of the road.
More than 20,000 residents have been ordered to evacuate as a wildfire in British Columbia races toward Summerland, a community of 12,000 people. The fire, which erupted late Friday, has already destroyed homes and overwhelmed the nearby community of Faulder.235
Evacuation orders were issued at midnight, leading to chaotic scenes on roads south from Summerland toward Penticton, with many residents fleeing as flames engulfed properties. Videos on social media captured the devastation, showing multiple homes ablaze and fire raging on both sides of the road.46
The wildfire, known as the Bald Range fire, was first reported at 5:30 p.m. Friday and has since expanded dramatically, burning 50 square kilometers in just a few hours. Officials have yet to assess the full extent of the destruction, but the rapid spread of the fire has left communities in a state of emergency.1
As the situation develops, authorities are urging residents to heed evacuation orders and stay informed through official channels. The fire's proximity to populated areas raises concerns about safety and the potential for further evacuations as conditions change.
“The Bald Range wildfire, first reported Friday evening, burned 50 square kilometres in a few hours, overwhelming Faulder before closing in on Summerland. Evacuation orders also cover Peachland, where 8,000 residents were told to leave, with roads south toward Penticton jammed with evacuees.”
