- An influx of firefighters is expected to bolster the effort against the Bald Range wildfire as crews grapple with hundreds of kilometres of fire perimeter and extremely dry fuels.
- Graham Statt, director of the Regional Emergency Operations Center, explained that as long as the firefight remains in a "response phase," it's not in a "re-entry phase," and even officials are waiting to assess damage.
- Statt said that damage assessment is not the role of BC Wildfire; they will conduct a rapid damage assessment when it is safe and use that information to determine re-entry phases.
- Residents are reminded to get the Voyent Alert! app for updates on evacuation orders or alerts, and evacuees can register with Emergency Support Services (ESS) by calling 1-800-387-4258 or in person at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre or the Westbank Lions Community Hall.
- The fire perimeter is measured in hundreds of kilometres, with spotting occurring at short or medium range.
- Murdoch noted that even after the initial flame front is gone, there is still much work to protect structures, which draws heavily on resources.
- The fire area is vast, ranging from very rural terrain to areas closer to municipal development, requiring different approaches.
An influx of firefighters is expected to bolster the effort against the Bald Range wildfire, which has consumed 15,590 hectares and presents a complex challenge due to its extensive perimeter and dry conditions.1
Hugh Murdoch from BC Wildfire Service noted that personnel numbers will increase, including the arrival of Mexican firefighters.34
He stated, “Once the initial flame front is gone there's still a lot of work to be done in behind to ensure that we're not losing structures after the fact.” The vast area of the fire ranges from rural terrain to regions near municipal development, necessitating varied firefighting strategies.
Murdoch emphasized the scale of the fire, saying, “The amount of perimeter is measured in hundreds and hundreds of kilometres in reality.” This extensive perimeter complicates containment efforts, as spotting can occur at both short and medium ranges.7
Regional Emergency Operations Center director Graham Statt explained that the firefight remains in a “response phase,” and officials are currently unable to assess damage. He stated, “A lot of questions are coming in about what's the state of damage, where is the damage across the community.” Damage assessments will be conducted once it is safe to enter affected areas.2
Residents are encouraged to download the Voyent Alert! app for updates on evacuation orders and alerts.56
For evacuees, Emergency Support Services (ESS) can be accessed by calling 1-800-387-4258 or visiting designated locations in Penticton and West Kelowna.
“Regional Emergency Operations Center director Graham Statt says the firefight remains in a response phase, not re-entry, and even officials await damage assessment. BC Wildfire will conduct a rapid damage assessment when safe to determine re-entry phases, while evacuees can register with ESS by calling 1-800-387-4258.”
