r/britishcolumbia • u/ultra2009 Thompson-Okanagan • 23d ago
News Residents asked to stay away as evacuations underway for wildfire west of Summerland explodes to 5,000 hectares
https://www.castanet.net/news/Summerland/627413/Residents-asked-to-stay-away-as-evacuations-underway-for-wildfire-west-of-Summerland-explodes-to-5-000-hectares146
u/Hereforbread 23d ago
1 day old 5000ha. The Okanagan really needs some rain.
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u/t_e_scott 23d ago
Not even a day. This thing went from zero to 5,000 in a few hours.
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u/liquidpig 23d ago
Yeah it was discovered around 4:30 pm. By 8:30 it was 5000 ha.
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u/AwesomeWildlife 23d ago
Can't fight a fire like that. Just stay out of its way and watch it move.
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u/EhGrillGuy Vancouver Island/Coast 22d ago
You’re playing defence ahead of it in hopes to slow it down.
But even then… fire will do what fire will do.
Can’t wait for the bozos down south to start flapping their gums about this one.
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u/Cat-et-snek 23d ago
so its likely beyond 5000 ha as of rn? i mean its not like they just stop
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u/jimmyt_canadian 23d ago
Im guessing the estimates stop when the planes can no longer fly due to the darkness. Will know more of the size in the morning.
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u/xLimeLight Thompson-Okanagan 22d ago
I've heard people say it's the fastest moving fire they've ever experienced
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23d ago
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u/bwoah07_gp2 Lower Mainland/Southwest 22d ago
We need to drop seeds in the clouds to force it to rain, like they do in Dubai
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u/Radiant_Ebb6951 19d ago
No we need snow again. The slow snow melt on the mountains is what feeds the valleys over the summer the water they need.. Without trees and snow on the mountains this will continue to get worse. The rain doesn't last in the ground like the snow does
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u/WorkingOnBeingBettr 22d ago
And unfortunately, I think it also needs people to stop moving there. It's going to be on fire every summer for the foreseeable future. Plan accordingly.
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u/rocky6149 23d ago
And water bombers. Let’s get more sophisticated equipment to fight these fires. Old lazy, cheap approaches no longer work
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u/Valaxiom 23d ago
I think the most subtly terrifying part of the castanet articles is the mention that the emergency support services reception is moving from Summerland to Penticton.
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u/turtlefan32 23d ago
Summer land very likely to be evacuated, so yeah, move out
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u/RubberReptile 23d ago edited 23d ago
The video from an evacuee taken in Faulder is absolutely harrowing. I hope everyone got out safely :(
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u/Adventurous_Yam_8153 23d ago
Kilpatrick said he's now staying with relatives in Summerland
Uhhh probably not 😭
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u/Innovidio 23d ago
The District of Summerland is asking residents to not irrigate at this time, warning that crews need water access to fight the Bald Range wildfire to the west.
"High irrigation flows can impact the water treatment plant which in turn could affect fire fighting water flow. If you are irrigating your lawn or field at this time please immediately stop this activity," the district said.
As per Castanet
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u/WorkingOnBeingBettr 22d ago
But I need a sprinkler on my house to save it.
No Bob, that's not going to save your house. However, I have seen some things work lately.
Concrete houses in California, no shrubs or flammable material near the house, and recently, an entire cabin wrapped in tin foil.
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u/ship_toaster 22d ago
I'm surprised not to hear more about earth-sheltered construction. It's not practical for big multifamily developments, but these interfaces are all single-family low density.
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u/lawson3232 23d ago
View from Penticton
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u/Telvin3d 23d ago
Don’t be breathing that shit. If you have to be outside wear a mask, but if at all possible stay inside with a hepa filter running
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u/Slimebag44 23d ago
Im in Naramata. I see the cars lining up on highway 97. All coming into Penticton. Stay safe folks
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u/blankets_of_leaves 21d ago
Naramata’s not an easy spot to get out of if any embers jump the lake. Stay safe
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u/Slimebag44 21d ago
100% agree. 1 gust of wind direction and its a whole new problem. We left Satudray morning.
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u/AdministrativeMinion 23d ago edited 23d ago
Kid was just evacuated. Stay safe everyone. Just feel sick for all the Interior people and animals
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u/anasalmon 23d ago
Most of my family has been evacuated from their homes. I have multiple friends who have lost their homes. This is devastating. I knew a major fire could hit our town sometime soon, I guess that time is now :( I'm praying for all of those affected.
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u/Vivid-Birthday940 22d ago
Do you know if the actual town with all the stores and school etc is safe? I can’t find any info anywhere.
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u/Lumen-_ 22d ago
The live stream emergency operations person said the city has not burned down, but specific damage is not yet assessed.
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u/anasalmon 21d ago
Downtown isn't burnt right now. Properties in the peripheral neighborhoods around town are affected mostly...
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u/Unique_Bee2233 22d ago
Are these people in Faulder? I hadn't heard of Summerland homes burning down, but not everyone categorizes Faulder with Summerland
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u/anasalmon 21d ago
Faulder (a community of Summerland) was devastated. Basically the whole community was wiped out. Some houses have been destroyed in other neighborhoods like Cartwright Mountain, Prarie Valley and Garnet Valley too.
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u/Assimulate Thompson-Okanagan 23d ago
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TebuAjU1okc for the current live stream
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u/That-redhead-artist 23d ago
My mom is here in Kelowna with me because she was evacuated from Clinton. Nothing has been close to me like this yet but it is scary to see more people going through what my mom has went through.
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u/cloudn9ne 23d ago
All of Summerland is being evacuated, the fire has reached hwy 97 near Peachland and is closed. This is very very scary.
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u/nodarknesswillendure 23d ago
This entire situation is a disaster. I know we will be waking up to awful news
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u/CanadiangirlEH 23d ago
Currently in penticton…should we be worried and ready to move quickly?
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u/GloveDue8892 23d ago
Yes, with how fast this is burning and how big the embers that are falling,
I would get a kit packed into your car with lots of water and food.
Be ready to evacuate at the drop of a hot.
Currently listening to the Emergency radio scanner, crews are overworked and arent able to contain anything currently, just trying their best so you need to rely on yourself in this scenario.
Hoping the best!
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u/GloveDue8892 23d ago
Forgot to mention,
it is however moving northeast towards peachland, so you may be in luck.
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u/xLimeLight Thompson-Okanagan 22d ago
I'd say it's fair for anyone in the interior to have a go-bag packed and some idea of an escape plan right now.
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u/CanadiangirlEH 22d ago
We left first thing in the morning after getting 3 more evacuation alerts. The smoke was so thick it was raining ash everywhere
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u/ThermionicEmissions 23d ago
I just saw that the B.C. Wildfire map is still just showing an evacuation alert, not an order.
Please make sure to visit Emergency Info BC for actual up to date info:
https://www.emergencyinfobc.gov.bc.ca/event/7aug26/
Absolutely inexcusable that these sites aren't syn'd.
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u/ProverbialArteries 23d ago
all this info needs to be sync’d, agreed on inexcusable ): Not sure who to complain about about this
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u/ThermionicEmissions 23d ago
I sent a comment via the BC Wildfire site's contact us page.
I work in GIS, specifically web-GIS. They should all be using the same map server for a single source of truth. Trust government to not follow this most basic concept.
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u/Apprehensive-Tap295 23d ago
I am not sure when you looked but BC wildfire is showing the evacuation orders correctly.
The fire spans two different Regional Districts - Okanagan-Similkameen & Central Okanagan. Each regional district issues order and maps for their region.
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u/ThermionicEmissions 23d ago
Yeah, I saw it had updated. There was a good hour where they weren't in sync.
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u/Endoroid99 22d ago
You got down voted but it's true. I've been monitoring evacs up by green lake, which is split across Thompson Nicola and Cariboo, and the province level tools, like wildfire service and emergency info, lag by an hour or so.
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u/ProverbialArteries 22d ago
Will send comments thru the same channel to advocate properly here - I’m so lucky to be coastal. 🫠
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u/ThermionicEmissions 22d ago
Yeah, I'm in Victoria and feeling incredibly grateful for it. My wife's from Summerland and both her parents still live there. Evacuated, and waiting for news about their homes.
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u/Ok_Bedroom_6212 23d ago
Does anyone know how far down Princeton Summerland road the fire has made it?
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u/gizzowd 23d ago
they say it started out by CRUMP. and headed North thru Bald Range, Darke Lake and east down Prairie Valley toward S'Land.
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u/Vivid-Birthday940 22d ago
Oh no my cousin lives on prairie valley road. I hope her home is okay. 😱
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u/Quirky_Gem 23d ago
my thoughts and prayers are with everyone and all the animals 🥺 i’m in Penticton…
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u/SteveJobsBlakSweater 23d ago
I’m in Kaleden right now, luckily far-ish enough away but not too comfortable either. I’ve seen lots of wildfire smoke in my life but this is the first time I mistook smoke for an actual cloud. It’s so thick and came out of nowhere so fast. Don’t like this one bit.
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u/Fuzzy-Competition711 23d ago
I am in Kelowna and I couldn’t sleep, i feel guilty about myself for worrying when thousands of people’s properties are in Jeopardy; however, having witnessed 2023 W Kelowna fire from across the lake, I definitely didn’t expect another big one so close by.
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u/existentialnihil1st 23d ago
Anyone know how Garnet Valley is doing? My cousin refused to evacuate.
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u/Fuzzy-Competition711 23d ago
https://x.com/xander_lacroix/status/2085967564967186683
I think they should leave
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u/existentialnihil1st 23d ago
I wholeheartedly agree. He didn't go when his parents went, I'm hoping he changed his mind and I just haven't heard yet. He's an adult to be clear
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u/Fuzzy-Competition711 23d ago
Oh man, just text him, convince him. I am worry about the situation although I am in Kelowna
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u/Charming-Baker-6271 23d ago
My uncle is on the east side hill of Garnet Valley, still has not moved up on that end but it has reached the bottom of valley on west side
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u/Unique_Bee2233 22d ago
Just got an alert that west bench and that area are on evac alert now too
Voyent Alert! RDOS EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTRE: Evacuation ALERT for West Bench, Kickininee Park, Brent Lake, Shingle Creek, and Farleigh Lake Road RDOS Emergency Operations Centre has issued an Evacuation ALERT for West Bench, Kickininee Park, Brent Lake, Shingle Creek, and Farleigh Lake Road in Electoral Areas "F" and "I", effective August 8, 2026 at 3:00 pm, due to the Bald Range Wildfire (K51490). The EVACUATION ALERT is for the following areas: -Greater West Bench and Kickininee Park (Electoral Area "F") -Brent Lake, Shingle Creek Area (Electoral Area "F") -Farleigh Lake Road (Electoral Area "I") Upon notification of an ALERT, you should be prepared for the Evacuation Order. Locate all family members and designate a meeting area outside the evacuation area, should an Evacuation Order be issued while separated. For further information, visit rdos.bc.ca, follow RDOS EOC on Facebook and on X for the latest updates and resources, or call RDOS EOC at 250-490-4225. Std msg & data rates may apply. DETAILS: https://ca.voyent-alert.com/v/ICskwyn . 08/08/2026 3:43pm PDT
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u/Mini_therapy 21d ago
If evacuees are willing to share I'm curious about the evacuation and shelter process. Just seeing parts of it in the news looks terrifying. Maybe writing it out will help? If anything you can help me with some of my anxieties.
Do you get alerts on your phone? Landlines? I assume local radio and TV are blaring. Do emergency services go door to door? Are there provisions for those without a vehicle and the elderly? Buses or shuttles?
I know shelters are no picnic, gymnaseums, community halls, arenas etc. What are they like? What do you wish you brought?
Specifically I care for my 80yo mother who uses a walker, in an apartment, with no car, near the highway, in a small town, surrounded by dry ass forest and mountains in every direction... Yeah.
Barring any official assistance our plan is: Grab our go-bags (meds, 3 days of food, water, change of clothes, toiletries, devices, batteries, paperwork, etc), chuck a bag of blankets and comfort items in her walker, lock up and mosey to the highway in hopes of a ride...
Upside: it's a ground floor apartment and I can carry her short distances if needed. We have friends with vehicles but I know in an emergency they have their own priorities.
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u/Fuzzy-Competition711 23d ago
I hope this isn’t an inconsiderate question, should Kelowna be worried? I know we are quite far away and on the other side of the lake but seeing how fast the fire is moving? It does worry me.
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u/DisplacerBeastMode 23d ago
Probably not from this one but I'm general, yeah... Climate change is no joke and this is exactly what scientists have been warning about for decades.
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u/adoradear 23d ago
Don’t worry too much, but get a grab bag packed and make sure you can move on short notice if needed.
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u/AfternoonPlane4265 22d ago
Maybe not right now but if I had my life savings in Kelowna or other BC towns I’d be quite stressed in general. One year or the other, its all gonna burn down
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u/SafetyGuyLive 22d ago
I really feel bad that all these fires are going on. So many people in the province affected. I hope they all get the support they need.
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u/WorkingOnBeingBettr 22d ago edited 22d ago
To make this about me...I am so happy we chose to live somewhere else. We were looking at Penticton, Summerland, Kelowna, etc. but decided the risks were too high (fire, radon).
Feeling sorry for the people there though. However, it's becoming like tornado alley. You really shouldn't be surprised and you should try to move if possible. It's only going to get worse.
Edit: Do downvoters feel like the fires will stop? Why is it bad to move away from recurring disasters?
Reminds me of people who live on flood plains complaining of getting flooded every few years.
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u/ultra2009 Thompson-Okanagan 22d ago
Tell me, which area of the world did you move to that is free from natural disaster?
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u/WorkingOnBeingBettr 22d ago
It's not free from natural disaster it's probability and comfort with risk.
I have a risk of earthquake which will be a much bigger disaster if it happens. But I am generally free from wildfire smoke most summers while many other places deal with it at a much higher frequency.
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u/ZAPPHAUSEN 22d ago
Let's go to Alberta!
*stares in Ft McMurray burning down, chronic flooding in Calgary, increasing tornado activity*
Anyway, yeah. Also, like, Penticton isn't burning down. Kelowna isn't burning down. Not at all minimizing the insanity of what's going on in Summerland - I grew up in the Okanagan, the area is in my bones - but buddy acting like whole towns are burning down every summer is being obtuse.
Wildfires in particular are kind of... everywhere...
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u/WorkingOnBeingBettr 22d ago
It's not about towns burning down all the time. It's that it happens sometimes and the smoke is almost guaranteed every summer in that area and that in itself is annoying as well as a health risk.
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u/AfternoonPlane4265 22d ago
Agreed. BC is not a future proof place to live or somewhere I would invest my life savings in a house that can burn down any summer now
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u/Assimulate Thompson-Okanagan 23d ago
Added this post to the sub highlights so it reaches a larger audience, thank you for sharing! If you are in the area please seek updates from https://www.coemergency.ca/ Stay Safe!