Bald Range wildfire expands to 24,622 hectares west of Summerland with evacuation orders in effect

The Bald Range wildfire burning west of Summerland has grown to 24,622 hectares more than two weeks after its discovery, with 13 evacuation alerts and 8 evacuation orders still in place. Despite the large number of evacuation orders, most residents have been able to return home—just 32 properties remain evacuated.

The BC Wildfire Service is maintaining 24-hour operations with ground crews, structure protection personnel, and aviation resources including bucketing helicopters, night-vision helicopters, and airtankers. Priorities include protecting responders and the public while defending structures, critical infrastructure, and Highway 97.

Smoky skies have slowed fire behaviour over recent days, but fuel remains extremely dry throughout the landscape. Summerland's year-to-date precipitation is running around 45 per cent of the long-term average. On the west and south flanks, fire behaviour intensified recently due to stronger winds, high temperatures, and low relative humidity. Parts of the south flank saw pockets of Rank 4 fire behaviour—highly vigorous surface fire with intermittent crown fire.

A thunderstorm is forecast for Saturday with winds gusting up to 70 km/h and limited rain expected in the evening. Ground crews are extinguishing heat pockets on the south and west flanks while heavy equipment builds guard lines. Ignitions were completed in two critical areas to remove unburnt fuel between the fire's edge and control lines.

Along the north flank, crews and heavy equipment are conducting direct attack and expanding containment from Fish Lake Road along the north perimeter to Princeton-Summerland Road to prevent the fire from moving north toward Peachland. The incident management team includes 382 firefighting personnel, 15 helicopters, and 77 pieces of heavy equipment.