- Okanagan resident Kellie Mast and her family escaped their home on the Benchland above Okanagan Lake with only minutes to spare as the Bradley Creek wildfire tore through their property.
- Mast described the terrifying escape, noting that flames were in their yard and surrounding their house as they drove out.
- The family is among hundreds of people who have lost their home this wildfire season, and they left with almost nothing.
- The Bradley Creek wildfire is now about 2,800 hectares and still burning out of control, though the BC Wildfire Service reports no significant growth and evacuation orders remain.
- The BC Wildfire Service emphasizes that hazards remain in burned areas and that ensuring safety for public return is a top priority.
- Mast is critical of the evacuation process and access to support services, saying it was less prepared than in 2021.
- Mast is now trying to find a place to stay and replace basic necessities, while her grandson still asks to go home.
Kellie Mast and her family faced a harrowing escape from the Bradley Creek wildfire, which has now consumed approximately 2,800 hectares and remains out of control. As they fled their home on the Benchland above Okanagan Lake, flames surrounded them, leaving them with only a few belongings.12378
"I could see the flames literally coming up the rise, and there was just our small little municipal road there," Mast recounted. "When we drove out, the flames were in our yard. They were already surrounding our house, and when we left out the driveway… there was flames on both sides."
Mast's family is among the hundreds who have lost their homes this wildfire season. "I left with two bins of things from my desk, and my daughter left with a few of her kid’s clothes… like almost nothing, almost nothing," she lamented.
The BC Wildfire Service reported that while there has not been significant growth in the fire, evacuation orders remain in effect. Sarah Hall from the service emphasized the importance of ensuring safety for the public before allowing residents to return.9
Mast criticized the evacuation process, stating, "Dealing with the evacuation process that they’ve set up with emergency services has been less than ideal. We went through it in 2021, and it seemed like they were less prepared, not better prepared."1011
As she seeks temporary housing and basic necessities, Mast's grandson still asks to return home, leaving her uncertain about their future.
“Mast, who escaped with only two bins of belongings, criticized the evacuation process as less prepared than in 2021. The BC Wildfire Service warns of remaining hazards, prioritizing safety before residents can return.”
Global News
