More than 20,000 people were forced from their homes after fast‑moving wildfires erupted across British Columbia, prompting the provincial government to declare a state of emergency as officials warned of explosive conditions that could threaten more communities.
Rapid growth, dire conditions
The so‑called Bald Range Fire, discovered on Friday in the Okanagan, nearly doubled in size overnight into Saturday, officials said, sending residents from communities along Okanagan Lake—including Summerland and Peachland—into evacuation centres.
Summerland, a community of about 12,000, and nearby Peachland, with roughly 8,000 residents, were among those ordered to leave as the fire moved with such intensity that even emergency staff had to abandon operations to seek safety, according to a regional official.
“I had to leave the Emergency Operations Centre to come and get my family to leave this area. We’re heading south,” Erick Thompson, an emergency official with the Regional District of Okanagan‑Similkameen, said in video posted early Saturday.
Premier David Eby, describing a briefing from a firefighting official, said the behaviour recalled an explosion — flames climbing the tops of tall trees and creating their own weather systems. He said one official described flames on trees as high as 30 metres and additional plume heights reaching about 61 metres, with the fire generating pyrocumulus and lightning that can spark new blazes.
Evacuations and search efforts
Authorities reported that search and rescue teams were still attempting to locate residents who became trapped as the fire moved. The province said air evacuations were underway to reach people isolated behind fire lines.
National police are investigating a potential death near Summerland related to the wildfires, but hazardous conditions prevented officials from confirming the casualty at the time of reporting.
Scale across the province
As of early Sunday, the BC Wildfire Service reported a total of 102 wildfires across the province, many of which remained out of control amid extreme heat, strong winds and prolonged drought conditions that have primed the landscape for rapid fire spread.
| Community | Approximate population | Evacuation status |
|---|---|---|
| Summerland | 12,000 | Evacuated |
| Peachland | 8,000 | Evacuated |
| Provincewide | 20,000+ evacuees reported |
Government response and resources
Prime Minister Mark Carney posted on social media thanking firefighters and first responders for their efforts and said the federal government was ready to assist. The province’s state of emergency declaration enables pooled resources and coordination to support evacuations, shelters and firefighting operations.
Officials warned that conditions remained volatile: high temperatures, strong winds and dry fuels can combine to produce extreme fire behaviour, including long‑range spotting and fire‑generated lightning that can ignite additional blazes far from the fire front.
What residents should know
- Follow local evacuation orders and the direction of emergency personnel.
- If you are in an evacuation zone and have time, bring essential documents, medications and supplies for pets and people.
- Expect roads and airspace to be disrupted; air evacuations are being used for those cut off by fire.
- Check provincial and regional emergency websites and social channels for up‑to‑date information on shelters and services.
The rapid escalation of these fires underscores the continued vulnerability of British Columbia to intense wildfire seasons as climate‑driven heat and drought conditions persist. Emergency agencies continue to urge residents in threatened communities to remain alert, heed evacuation notices and prepare for prolonged disruption while crews work to contain the blazes.
Reporting is ongoing as officials refine figures on damage, casualties and the number of people affected.
