Majority of Summerland, B.C., Allowed Home as Evacuation Order Partially Downgraded
Residents are returning to smoke- and ash-covered homes as the Bald Range wildfire still burns across more than 21,000 hectares, officials said.
- On Tuesday, the District of Summerland downgraded evacuation orders for 3,380 properties, allowing residents to return home after the Bald Range wildfire forced the community to flee on August 7. Mayor Doug Holmes called the move "the majority of Summerland" reopening.
- The Bald Range wildfire forced more than 12,000 residents to evacuate on August 7 and has since grown to 21,391 hectares, remaining out of control. BC Wildfire Service crews continue 24-hour operations, prioritizing the northwestern flank where the blaze shows aggressive behavior.
- An initial assessment by the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen found 150 structures damaged or destroyed, with about 40 within Summerland municipal boundaries. Returning residents report ash and smoke throughout their homes, while power outages varied across the community.
- Holmes noted officials prioritized allowing residents who lost homes to visit their properties before opening re-entry to neighbors. While residents like Scott and Linda Goodwin expressed relief at returning, some evacuees faced frustration during the process.
- Despite progress, 530 properties in Garnet Valley, Prairie Valley, and Meadow Valley remain under evacuation orders. BC Wildfire Service officials warn that warmer weather and shifting winds expected Tuesday could increase fire behavior, keeping the situation unpredictable.
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Energetic City
Relief in Summerland, B.C., as fire evacuations end, but 150 structures damaged, lost
A fire truck is seen on a hillside burned by the Bald Range wildfire, in this handout photo, near Summerland, B.C., on Monday, Aug. 17, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout — Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (Mandatory Credit) VANCOUVER — Most of the 12,000 or so residents of Summerland, B.C., are able to return home today, more than 10 days after they were chased out by one of the fastest-moving wildfires the province has ever seen. The di…
Evacuation orders lifted for majority of Summerland properties
Most Summerland residents are able to return to their homes in the aftermath of the Bald Range wildfire. The municipality lifted the evacuation order for 3,380 properties on Aug. 18. Earlier, evacuation orders for 1,200 properties were lifted in two phases. The announcement means 90 per cent of Summerland residents can return to their homes, Mayor Doug Holmes said on Aug. 18. The 530 properties still under evacuation orders are in Garnet Valley,…
UPDATE: More Summerland residents can return home amid Bald Range wildfire - Creston Valley Advance
UPDATE 8 a.m. Some Summerland residents are getting the chance to go home on Tuesday morning. At 7 a.m. on Aug. 18, the District of Summerland said residents who reside in Summerland proper – West of Highway 97, up to and including a portion of Cartwright Avenue, a portion of Haddrell Avenue (south of Dale Meadows Road) – have had their evacuation order downgraded. However, the following properties are executed from the change and remain on evac…
UPDATE: More Summerland residents can return home amid Bald Range wildfire - Grand Forks Gazette
UPDATE 8 a.m. Some Summerland residents are getting the chance to go home on Tuesday morning. At 7 a.m. on Aug. 18, the District of Summerland said residents who reside in Summerland proper – West of Highway 97, up to and including a portion of Cartwright Avenue, a portion of Haddrell Avenue (south of Dale Meadows Road) – have had their evacuation order downgraded. However, the following properties are executed from the change and remain on evac…
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