BC Wildfire That Forced 20,000 to Evacuate Sees Little New Growth But Remains Out of Control

The Bald Range wildfire, that has forced 20,000 people out of their homes in the south Okanagan region, burns in Summerland, B.C., late on Aug. 8, 2026. The Canadian Press/Darryl DyckThe Bald Range wildfire that forced more than 20,000 people to evacuate from Summerland and parts of Peachland in B.C.’s Okanagan region has shown little new growth after reaching Okanagan Lake, but it remains classified as “out of control.”As of Sunday, Aug. 9, the Bald Range wildfire reached 136.2 square kilometres in size, and its eastern edge had reached Okanagan Lake a day earlier. Evacuation orders remain in place for designated properties across the District of Peachland, the District of Summerland, the Regional District of Central Okanagan, the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen, and the Penticton Indian Band jurisdiction.Authorities in those districts issued evacuation orders on Aug. 8 after the Bald Range wildfire exploded in size, swelling overnight to roughly 95 square kilometres due to aggressive rank 5 and 6 fire behaviour driven by high winds and dry conditions. The wildfire was initially reported at around 5:30 p.m. on Aug. 7 and had grown to 50 square kilometres within just a few hours of its discovery.By the afternoon of Aug. 8, it had grown to more than 100 square kilometres and a state of emergency was enacted by B.C. Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness Kelly Greene.The fire has also resulted in at least one reported death, with RCMP investigating a report from Meadow Valley, a rural area west and northwest of Summerland.“Southeast District RCMP is aware of one impacted resident from Meadow Valley who has reported a possible fatality. Hazardous conditions are present in the region and police along with the BC Coroners Service are investigating to confirm,” the RCMP said in an Aug. 8 news release. “Officers are working closely with the impacted family.”While an assessment on property damage from the Bald Range wildfire is pending, Premier David Eby said the damage was “significant.”“We know there have been significant losses of homes and property. We also know that some people became trapped as conditions changed quickly,” he said in a statement issued on Aug. 8.“Our immediate priority is protecting lives and supporting rescue efforts. Air evacuations are underway for people who remain isolated behind the fire perimeter.”Eby said the provincial government was working with local authorities to provide accommodation for people displaced by the wildfire. “We believe we have sufficient resources at this time,” the premier said.Bradley Creek, another significant wildfire that grew to 26.34 square kilometres and displaced many residences in the area around Vernon, about 100 kilometres north of Summerland, is now classified as “being held.”A wildfire that is “being held” is one that is projected, based on fuel and weather conditions and resource availability, to remain within the current perimeter, control line or boundary.