In Penticton, B.C., an outpouring of support for Summerland fire evacuees

Laurie Andres, an evacuee from Summerland, was at the temple with a group of friends because they were hungry and says there’s been an unbelievable amount of support and resources for people since being displaced.

Andres says her son is a volunteer firefighter and she’s been told her home wasn’t damaged by the blaze that has emptied her hometown.

“We’ve always been really lucky,” she said. “We’ve avoided the fires, but not this time.”   

While residents remain displaced by the Bald Range fire, filling hotels and campsites in Penticton and elsewhere, another major wildfire in the Okanagan has been declared as being held, with damage assessments underway ahead of a possible return for evacuees.

Central Okanagan Emergency Management says the Quilpituk Creek fire that triggered evacuations earlier this month between Vernon and Kelowna was expected to remain within its current boundary.

The emergency operations centre said it was assessing tree danger and hydro lines to determine when residents can return home.

The Bald Range wildfire, further south but also the western shores of Okanagan Lake, had seen thousands of properties evacuated, with thousands more on evacuation alert. Eight properties in an inland area west of the lake were added to the alert area on Wednesday.

The blaze roared west last Friday, and the chief of the Penticton Indian Band said such events weren’t natural.

Chief Greg Gabriel, whose members are among the evacuees, said Wednesday that more needed to be done to fix the problem, which could mean looking at logging practices and addressing drought conditions.

Gabriel said he had asked the province to address the need for an alternative emergency route out of communities during a crisis, with Highway 97 cut by the wildfire.

Eby said Wednesday there was significant demand for secondary egress roads and that the Transportation Ministry would work on which to prioritize.

It’s not known when people will be allowed to return to Summerland as the fire remains out of control and a lightning storm with erratic winds is expected.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 13, 2026

Darryl Greer, The Canadian Press

by The Canadian Press

In Penticton, B.C., an outpouring of support for Summerland fire evacuees

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