Over 20,000 flee as B.C evacuation orders in full swing due to aggressive wildfire

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.”

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.

Reporting for CityAM Canada on fire and the wider Canadian economy.

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