Okanagan wildfire residents return home; 150 structures damaged or destroyed in Bald Range fire

Most of the 20,000 people evacuated from Okanagan Lake are expected to return home in coming days as wildland firefighters get the Bald Range wildfire under control, but they're discovering the scale of destruction across the region.

The Regional District of Okanagan-Similikameen says at least 150 structures in the area have been damaged or destroyed, though it has not specified how many were homes versus sheds or barns. The fire is now burning northwest, away from Summerland, with BC Wildfire Service saying other flanks are being held behind control lines.

Danielle Valcourt, who lost her home and much of her family's equestrian centre to the fire, evacuated 29 horses — including a foal born that afternoon — plus barn cats and pregnant dogs. She led the last horse away by hand as officials cut off access to the area. "We lost a lot on this farm," she said. "So much memorabilia of our deceased family members, and we lost the place that I grew up in. But I think we got out with every single thing that really, really mattered to us, which is the people and the animals."

Summerland Mayor Doug Holmes, now able to return fully, says work is well underway to get everyone home. The sewage plant is back up and running, power is restored to 90 per cent of properties, and social workers and counsellors are making calls to those who have lost homes to provide support. The source has not stated a timeline for all evacuation orders to be lifted.

Holmes credits firefighters with preventing far greater loss. "When people come back, they're going to see where the fire burned, and right up into their backyards in many cases, but the house was saved. Whole neighbourhoods were saved."