More than 20,000 residents have been forced to evacuate British Columbia communities near Okanagan Lake overnight as the explosive wildfire continued to spread.
Evacuation orders cover the entire community of Summerland, population 12,000, while a further 8,000 were told to flee in and around Peachland, both on the western shore of the lake in the B.C. Interior.
The Bald Range wildfire was first reported on Friday afternoon, about 15 kilometres west of the community.
In just the span of a few hours, the blaze grew in size to more than 5,000 hectares. By Saturday morning, the BC Wildfire Service estimated the fire’s size at 9,500 hectares.
The BC Wildfire Service says it’s displaying aggressive rank 5 behaviour, with an organized flame front with a fast rate of spread and moderate to long-range spotting.
It also says gusty winds fuelled the quick growth and complicated the firefight for aircraft.
Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen information officer Erick Thompson urged residents to leave immediately, describing it as one of the “quickest-moving, fastest-growing” wildfires the region has ever seen.
“The most important thing you can do is leave your property,” Thompson said early Saturday. “Out of an abundance of caution, you shouldn’t be here, especially if you have children.”
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He acknowledged heavy traffic and crowded reception centres as thousands fled, urging people to check on neighbours while evacuating.
Residents have told Global News that some homes have been lost to the fire.
Corey Charlesworth, who lives on Jones Flat Road near Summerland, said he rushed home from work in Kelowna after a neighbour warned him about the fire.
“I could tell right away that that fire was not 15 kilometres away anymore,” he said. “Every time I looked at it was 50 hectares, 400, 1,000, 5,000. It just exploded.”
Charlesworth said his main concern was for residents and livestock in nearby ranching areas.
“I just want everybody to get out, get out of the way of this fire and let the pros do their job,” he said.
He said he remained hopeful his home would be spared, crediting nearby orchard owners who turned on irrigation sprinklers and praising firefighters protecting the community.
The wildfire is also forcing people in the health system in the region to evacuate.
Interior Health, the regional health authority serving British Columbia’s southern Interior, said it is relocating 48 residents from Dr. Andrew Pavilion and moving another 190 residents from Summerland Seniors Village to alternate locations outside the affected area.
The health authority said it is contacting families directly with updates on their loved ones’ temporary locations and advised anyone requiring emergency care to seek treatment at Penticton Regional Hospital while it continues supporting community clients affected by the wildfire.
Officials have also told Global News that some residents had to be evacuated by helicopter due to the fast-moving wildfire that cut off roadway access.
In a social media post Saturday, Central Okanagan Search and Rescue (COSAR) said its crews were initially called to help Penticton Search and Rescue evacuate Summerland but were redirected after Highway 97 was closed by the wildfire.
COSAR said members instead worked alongside the RCMP to evacuate several hundred homes in the Princeton Avenue area of Peachland.
The agency also warned that some navigation apps are directing motorists onto the Summerland-Peachland Forest Service Road after the highway closure, sending them toward the wildfire.
Search and rescue officials are urging drivers to rely on official road closure information from DriveBC rather than navigation apps.
-with files from Jacob New, Global News and The Canadian Press
When people are depending on updated information immediately under fire evacuation notices. Your app plays a 25 second advertisement before it share information. Absolutely disgusting
My heart goes out to all of the residents impacted by this horrible event.
Its a level 5 fire. No amount of wate bombers will touch the fire. It is too hot to work the edge. Just have to get out of the way and hope for rain and a change in the wind.
Total government overreach. Thoe freedom convoyers should get up a protest, stand their ground and blow their horns.
Jay Voorhees
August 8, 2026 at 11:43 am
The BC NDP spent over $145 million to strengthen the BC Wildfire Service and Emergency Management BC in 2025 alone you f**king idiot
Yeah so? Where is it? All the new teaspoons? Up yours Voorhees.
The cheap cigarettes that all the Indian reserves are selling burn like firecrackers. It could be payback for the Hudson’s Bay blankets we gave them. They sure seems angry about something….
Where is Angela Elise Cornish, convicted arsonist, Shuswap and Monte lake firestarter? Inquiring minds want to know. Praying is for fools. Do something besides wishing.
Total incompetence and inaction by the B.C. NDP Government
Where is DAVID LLOYD TRAVIS, convicted arsonist ln BC.? Making his way from Kamloops back to nelson with a zippo? Investigate that, because he’s the #1 suspect if this arson.
Yesterday’s news. Click, copy, paste. No Peabody award here. No new information today. Ebys spin Doctors and lap dogs. Show us today’s images from Summerland. Do your job. CBC. CTV. Useless.
But poor billionaires need money and sympathy for their economy of poverty to maintain in their best interests.
Good thing the majority of money is going to support profitable corporations and other countries!
The fuktards calling out our prime minister for forrest fires…..
Sad that “climate change “ causes so much arson.
The Gods are angry with B.C. and “His” land being fought over and given away to greedy.
Read the story on arson investigations next
The BC NDP spent over $145 million to strengthen the BC Wildfire Service and Emergency Management BC in 2025 alone you f**king idiot
Blaming the NDP for lightning strikes now? Wow these angry Conservatives are getting more and more desperate every day 🤣🤣
Thanks Mr Eby and the NDP for all you DONT do! Thanks for all the fire fighting equipment we DONT have and the ECONOMY that has been suppressed and over taxed with spending going out the door to pet projects and ind*ans who are in fact lighting up the forest.
Censorship
August 8, 2026 at 4:20 am
They disabled the comments section for the article titled “Arson investigations launched for some B.C. fires as wildfires continue to burn”, but left it open for this one.
So lets get this straight. We dont have the right to stand and fight, protect our homes. But they have the right to send other people in to watch in burn. Unable to do squat cause of lack.
Who are the real criminals here? The person wanting to, who has every right to, stay and fight, or the morons who just let all burn?
If I build a home and put in firefighting mitigation I will damn well stay and fight the fire. AND I WONT BE BUILDING IT OUT OF STICKS IN THE FOREST EITHER!! DUUUUUUHHHHHH!!!!
My thoughts are with the people affected. Australia, Britain, France, US, etc. have the same issue with wildfires. Nothing to do with forest management but the density and largeness of forests.
Thanks Carney libs… Not!
They disabled the comments section for the article titled “Arson investigations launched for some B.C. fires as wildfires continue to burn”, but left it open for this one.
There is at least 1 man still in there. My sister’s husband is still there. Emergency personnel said it’s not safe to go in there to rescue him.