B.C. wildfires force 5,000 evacuations as Bradley Creek fire grows to 26 sq km

About 5,000 people were evacuated across British Columbia in the past 24 hours as the Bradley Creek wildfire near Vernon grew to 26 square kilometres, forcing residents to abandon homes, pets, and possessions.

The fire, discovered Friday, spread rapidly over the weekend. Winds in the area reached up to 80 km/h on Sunday, intensifying the spread. Officials described the situation as a "complex and rapidly evolving emergency response."

Residents at evacuation centres reported significant strain. The Westbank Lions Community Centre in West Kelowna became so crowded that some evacuees had to sleep in their cars overnight. Many fled with only what they could carry—some left pets behind, unable to transport them safely.

Tiffany Wilson, a member of the Okanagan Indian Band, said the Bradley Creek wildfire "just exploded overnight." She had prepared to stay on the reserve but left when officials evacuated it entirely, taking her daughter, son, dog, rooster, and three chickens. "We're all pretty stressed out," she said.

April Joy heard helicopters gathering water from a lake just blocks from her home and told her mother, "We're going. We're not waiting for the evacuation order." She made the difficult decision to leave elderly cats behind, fearing they wouldn't survive the crowded, hot drive to safety.

Shantal Copley, displaced by the Quilpituk Creek wildfire on the west side of Okanagan Lake, arrived home to find police turning people away. She couldn't retrieve her cat or essentials, stranding her in Vernon. Her parents later retrieved the cat and a few belongings, but the family remains displaced.

The Bradley Creek fire is one of six wildfires of note burning in the province. Many evacuees have fled to West Kelowna and Vernon to seek refuge.