RCMP Launch Investigation Into Cause of Deadly BC Wildfire

Smoke rises from the Bald Range wildfire over a residential street in Summerland, B.C., Aug. 7, 2026. Terry Fries/Handout via REUTERSThe cause of a wildfire in the central Interior of British Columbia that has forced thousands of evacuations and resulted in the death of a senior is under investigation by the RCMP.The Penticton South Okanagan Similkameen Regional RCMP has put out a call for information to help investigators determine what caused the Bald Range wildfire to ignite on Aug. 7 near Summerland in B.C.’s Okanagan Valley.Officers are “examining all reports of suspicious activity which may have led to the start of the fire” and want to speak to witnesses “who may have observed any actions or activities” in the Princeton-Summerland Road and Bathville Road area, as well as near and in the Crump Recreation site and the Trout Creek Recreation site, police said in a press release.The Mounties are looking to review any dashcam footage, videos, photos and information from the afternoon of Aug. 7, they said.The precinct said it’s also striving to counteract any “misinformation” about the origin of the blaze.Videos shared on social media showing an individual using a bear-banger device have led to accusations of that person’s involvement in igniting the blaze, but police say the video was recorded kilometres away from where the fire started, and the individual was questioned as a witness, not a suspect.“The public is cautioned against making false statements and to stop the continuation of misinformation on social media,” the RCMP said.The Bald Range wildfire spread swiftly after it was ignited, forcing the evacuation of more than 12,000 residents in Summerland and 8,000 in Peachland over the weekend.The wildfire led to the destruction of homes and other structures and police have also confirmed an 80-year-old woman died as she was fleeing from the advancing flames.Penticton South Okanagan Similkameen Regional RCMP Detachment Supt. Beth McAndie told reporters during a late night press conference on Aug. 10 that the woman’s death and the widespread property damage caused by the wildfire have prompted the criminal investigation.“Because there is an associated death and a significant amount of property damage, we need to follow up with that,” McAndie said during the press conference in Penticton.Police Enforcing EvacuationThe wildfire had increased to 15,590 hectares as of the early morning hours of Aug. 11 and 11 evacuation orders remain in effect, according to the BC Wildfire Service. The blaze is still considered out of control and is one of four wildfires of note currently burning in the province.The Penticton RCMP, in collaboration with nearby RCMP detachments and Natural Resource Officers (NRO) from BC Conservation Services, are patrolling regions that are currently under evacuation orders, to monitor properties and businesses.The area remains closed for access and the closure is being strictly enforced by officers at checkpoints and patrols, the RCMP said, noting one man was arrested on Aug. 9 for ignoring the evacuation order.McAndie said the man was taken into custody after attempting to enter the Summerland area.“The information as I have it was this individual was trying to make entry, attempting to make entry into the evacuated areas and was intercepted by our roving patrols,” she said, adding that another person who tried to charge a roadblock was handed a large fine.McAndie noted there have been “no reports of criminal activity within the evacuation order areas.”Anyone with information about the origin of the Bald Range wildfire is asked to contact the Penticton South Okanagan Similkameen Regional RCMP Detachment or email the precinct their digital footage and photos.