Fast-Moving Canadian Wildfire Swells to 36 Square Miles, Triggering Mass Evacuations
A rapidly advancing blaze—now dubbed the Bald Range wildfire—has expanded to over 36 square miles (95 km²) in the Summerland and Okanagan‑Similkameen districts. Reported by the BC Wildfire Service, the fire’s size has doubled since initial detection on Friday, prompting emergency officials to order evacuation of more than 20,000 residents in Summerland (≈12,000 people) and Peachland (≈8,000 people).
The Bald Range wildfire burns, as seen from a vehicle, northwest of Summerland, British Columbia, Canada.
“We’re seeing the fire move incredibly fast,” said Erick Thompson, an emergency official from the Regional District of Okanagan‑Similkameen. He described the blaze as one of the “quickest‑moving, largest fires in such a short time” the region has experienced. The fire remains out of control even by Saturday morning.
Power outages struck Summerland early Saturday, adding to the turmoil of the emergency. Residents had to leave their homes in the dark, and many faced difficulties bringing pets to safety. Some animal owners left gates open hoping their horses and livestock would find their way out, while others painted markings on animals to aid later identification.
A tree in a forest on fire with red smoke surrounding it.
The Red Hills fire has yet to reveal the full extent of structural damage, but the rapid surge in size and the aggressive spread across dry forest fuel have left officials uncertain about how many homes and outbuildings are lost.
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