b.c. wildfires updates: watch live now - b.c. government fire update | firefighters to arrive from costa rica | heavy smoke blankets okanagan
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b.c. has declared a state of emergency as crews battle a number of wildfires around the province. the b.c. wildfire service warned that continuing hot and dry conditions have led to more extreme fire behaviour.
follow our live-blog for the latest updates:
b.c. wildfires map
quicklinks
• latest updates on fire activity in british columbia: bcwildfire.ca
• current wildfire travel advisories: drivebc.ca
• info for residents/evacuees impacted by wildfires: emergencyinfobc.gov.bc.ca
• our newsroom’s coverage of the 2026 wildfires: vancouversun.com/tag/wildfires
• current wildfire travel advisories: drivebc.ca
• info for residents/evacuees impacted by wildfires: emergencyinfobc.gov.bc.ca
• our newsroom’s coverage of the 2026 wildfires: vancouversun.com/tag/wildfires
scenes from the bald range wildfire
tuesday, aug. 11
live at 11 a.m.: b.c. governments holds wildfire update
the b.c. government will hold a news conference at 11 a.m. to update the public on the wildfire situation. check back for updates or watch the live news conference here:
arson a major concern, says b.c. wildfire service
wildfire officials are “extremely concerned” about intentionally set and accidental wildfires in a drought-stricken province.
about four per cent of wildfires over the last 10 years have been deliberately set which is “far too high of a number,” said cliff chapman, director of wildfire operations at the b.c. wildfire service
“we are extremely concerned about intentionally set wildfires anywhere in the province at any time. but given the conditions that we continue to speak of, we are obviously more concerned right now,” he said.
he reminded everyone that a ban on off-road vehicles went into effect monday in a bid to stop accidental fires.
“the conditions are so extreme right now that we can’t afford another unintentional human-caused wildfire,” said chapman.
he said even with some precipitation in the forecast this week, firefighters will continue to see very challenging wildfire conditions given the drought, heat and wind gusts.
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b.c. government asks evacuees to go to reception centres, some loss of livestock reported
b.c.’s minister of emergency management and climate readiness is urging anyone who has been ordered to leave their homes to register and get help from emergency services at the reception centres.
kelly greene says there are 1,600 block-booked hotel rooms in penticton, kelowna, and west kelowna, and 1,000 group lodging spaces in these regions.
she also said some families on evacuation alert have been trying to pre-register at reception centres but she asked only evacuees go to those centres.
“we know that with climate change, we’re seeing a wide range of worsening hazards, including wildfire seasons becoming longer and more severe. that means to stay safe, people should prepare for emergencies year-round. for those who may be at risk of an evacuation in the coming days, i urge you to have a grab-and-go bag packed and ready for each member of your household, including pets,” said greene at a news conference tuesday to provide and update on the wildfire and drought conditions in b.c.
forests minister ravi parmar asked every b.c. resident to be extra vigilant not to start wildfires, as the province is in for more hot, dry and windy weather in the days ahead.
“i need everyone in british columbia to be extraordinarily careful right now,” said parmar.
“one careless action can start another wildfire. one spark can put another community at risk, and one drone flying near a wildfire can ground the aircraft our firefighters are desperately relying on. our crews of enough fires to fight. please don’t give them another one.”
agriculture minister lana popham said there’s 269 registered agricultural premises impacted by wildfire activity affecting about 50,000 animals.
“that doesn’t mean that those animals are necessarily in imminent danger, but they are threatened, and we are trying to manage that on the ground right now.”
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she added that there have been reports of livestock loss but the full extent of damage is not yet known.
the wildfire has also impacted orchards as many farmers cannot access their trees to pick the fruit, she said.
firefighters from costa rica to arrive this week
the b.c. wildfire service says firefighters from around the world are arriving to help battle the flames.
on thursday, 102 wildfire personnel from costa rica will arrive in b.c.
fire officials say the experienced firefighters will join crews from across canada and around the world, including experts from mexico, australia and new zealand.
heavy smoke chokes the okanagan
penticton — the smoke has thickened overnight. where the hills across the valley were still faintly visible through the haze on monday, by tuesday morning they’re all but gone.
it hits hard the moment you step outside, catching in your nose and throat. and from early on, the sound over penticton is constant — the low hum of helicopters passing overhead, buckets slung beneath them, headed for the fire.
the okanagan remains under an orange-level air quality warning.
environment and climate change canada says exposure to high smoke levels can pose threat to your health and anyone in the area is asked to avoid outdoor activities until the warning has ended.
some people are more at risk, including people with lung and heart conditions, pregnant individuals, infants and young children, people aged 65 and older, and anyone whose health is affected by a chronic condition or acute illness, the agency said.
summerland wildfire continues to burn out of control, provincial update expected tuesday
the bald range wildfire, which has led to at least one death, thousands of evacuation orders and extensive property loss, continues to burn out of control in b.c.’s okanagan region.
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the latest update from the b.c. wildfire service has mapped the fire at about 156 square kilometres. the b.c. government will hold a news conference at 11 a.m. to update the public on the wildfire situation.
fire officials say the cause of the blaze, which sparked late friday about 15 kilometres west of summerland, remains under investigation.
increased winds from the northwest contributed to increased fire activity, the b.c. wildfire service said. firefighters said more wind was expected overnight.
about 20,000 residents remain out of their homes, with 11 evacuations orders and seven evacuation alerts still in place.
as of tuesday morning, there are more than 100 wildfires burning in b.c., and the risk remains high for new fires because of hot weather, high winds, dry lightning and multi-year drought in many parts of the province.
b.c. remains under a provincial state of emergency.
smoke and haze over summerland as seen from naramata in penticton on aug. 10, 2026.
arlen redekop
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monday, aug. 10
uncertain future for evacuees
flames licked the fence ringing brian callow’s mushroom farm in summerland and smoke made it hard to see the sky.
it was early saturday, just after midnight, and the bald range fire was creeping ever closer.
after turning on his sprinklers, callow got in his truck with his dog and set out to join his wife faith and their daughters hadlee and harper who had already fled.
“the roaring sound of the fire and the winds picked up, and fire just started kind of coming down the mountain,” he recalled.
later that day, the owner of what the fungus got a text message from a neighbour.
“he drove by and immediately texts me and said ‘my farm’s gone,’ and i didn’t really understand what that meant. but later, i found out that, like, everything was gone — like the shop burned down, cars are all gone, you know, every single structure for the mushroom farm, my business partner’s home,” said callow.
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“it’s all rubble.”
callow and his family are among the many south okanagan residents facing an uncertain future after a massive wildfire broke out friday, engulfing 156 square kilometres and forcing some 20,000 residents to flee their homes.
the b.c. government has booked more than 1,000 hotel rooms across the okanagan for wildfire evacuees, with more blocks being booked as accommodation becomes available.
people needing help finding a hotel room or a referral to group lodging can visit the reception centre at the penticton trade and convention centre, 273 power st., penticton or the westbank lions community hall, 2466 main st., west kelowna.
people can reach the b.c. evacuee helpline at 1-800-387-4258.
traffic being turned around at highway 97 closure
at the closure on highway 97, traffic keeps arriving — most of it turned back within seconds.
some drivers pull up simply not knowing the road is shut, according to a flagger working the checkpoint.
others come and slip through to check on their property. a few, the flagger said, have had to be chased down by police after trying to push past the closure between south of peachland and the summerland area.
some told the flaggers they’d left their lawn sprinklers running and just wanted to get in to shut them off.
only vehicles with permits are let through. one car came through on a pass to deliver food to firefighters.
the flagger said their assignment is narrow and clear.
“we got a very specific task — to keep everybody out,” he said.
origin of bald range wildfire under investigation
police in penticton are asking the public’s help as investigators continue to work to identify the source of the bald range wildfire.
the wildfire began on aug. 7 and penticton rcmp are examining reports that suspicious activity may have led to the start of the fire.
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witnesses who may have seen anything suspicious in the area of princeton-summerland road and bathville road, near and in the crump recreation site and the trout creek recreation site, are asked to speak to investigators.
anyone with information about the origin of the summerland (bald range) wildfire should contact the penticton south okanagan similkameen regional rcmp detachment at 250-492-4300. digital footage, videos and photos can be submitted by email at baldrangereporting@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.
bald range wildfire grows
the b.c. wildfire service says the fire in the summerland area has grown to more than 150 square kilometres.
evacuation orders continue for summerland, peachland, the snpink’tn indian band and surrounding areas, and alerts are also in place in neighbouring parts of the central okanagan.
watch: fleeing the bald range wildfire
stephanie richter shot this video of the bald range wildfire coming down the hill toward the new beginnings animal sanctuary as they loaded the trailers on friday.
active air operations
along highway 3 through manning park, smoke drifted heavily across the road and several helicopters worked overhead — one dipping a small bucket to scoop water from a roadside tank, a sign of active air operations on the fire complex burning through the park.
off-road vehicles banned from crown lands
off-road vehicles used for recreation have been temporarily banned across much of b.c. as a wildfire prevention measure.
the vehicles have the potential to spark wildfires unintentionally.
the ban is effective immediately for all crown lands throughout the kamloops and southeast fire centres and parts of the cariboo and coastal fire centres.
“during this period of extreme and unpredictable fire activity, the priority is public and first-responder safety and the prevention of human-caused wildfires,” said the b.c. ministry of forests.
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the ban applies to all atvs, motorcycles and off-road side-by-side vehicles. it does not apply to private lands or national parks, nor to agricultural, commercial or industrial users who need the vehicles for farming, business or emergency response.
“august is traditionally the most active month of the wildfire season,” said the ministry in a notice released monday.
“given the number of fires currently burning in b.c., the elevated fire danger ratings and the extremely dry conditions in many parts of the province, the b.c. wildfire service strongly urges people in british columbia and visitors to stay out of the backcountry in these regions.”
backcountry activity has the potential to unintentionally ignite wildfires, where it can be challenging and complex to get help or evacuate if one should start.
anyone found violating the prohibition can be issued a ticket for as much as $1,150, and if the contravention causes or contributes to a wildfire, the person responsible could be ordered to pay all firefighting and related costs.
to report a violation, call the report all poachers and polluters (rapp) line at 1-877-952-7277.
sunday, aug. 9
woman, 80, dies while evacuating bald range wildfire
the penticton rcmp has confirmed an elderly woman died while fleeing the bald range wildfire.
according to police, the 80-year-old and a family member were leaving their home in the meadow valley area shortly after the wildfire began spreading rapidly on friday evening. meadow valley is northwest of summerland.
in the early hours of saturday morning, police were contacted by a witness who had evacuated the area and told of the woman’s sudden death.
records show the area the woman was leaving was subject to an evacuation order issued at 4 a.m. on saturday.
“penticton rcmp are now confirming an 80-year-old meadow valley resident was attempting to leave her home, along with one member of her family, due to the wildfires when she reportedly died suddenly. police believe her death to be a result of the wildfire,” the statement read.
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the b.c. coroners service is investigating.
heavy smoke giving firefighters a break
b.c. wildfire service information officer erin catherall says heavy smoke due to the bald range wildfire is keeping temperatures down and helping firefighters.
“we don’t want blue skies because temperatures will go up,” catherall said.
however, working against fire crews is an expected change in wind direction from the east to the west. this mean the fire, which is west of the evacuated summerland, could be blown towards the district.
fire crews are also concerned that some residents have stayed, despite an evacuation order.
the bald range wildfire grew 30 square kilometres overnight and is now at 136 square kilometres.
stories of animal rescues from the fire zone
as evacuees leave summerland and the surrounding area, some are going back into the wildfire-affected properties to bring out horses, pets and other livestock.
denise ryan has more on the rescues over the weekend.
‘sky glowing red’: alberta vacationer recounts escape from wildfire
a calgary-based dj has shared his story of fleeing the raging wildfire near summerland.
matt strickland, 33, he travelled to the okanagan valley to perform in penticton before joining friends for a camping trip near summerland, which is under wide-ranging evacuation orders.
the group set up their tents friday morning and later that day began noticing a plume of smoke rising from a nearby mountain. as conditions worsened, strickland said they began packing their belongings so they would be ready to leave.
“you could see the sky was glowing red. there was lots of smoke,” strickland said. “we were getting snowed on by ash … it was getting pretty bad.”
the group stayed at the campsite, watching as winds appeared to push the fire and smoke away from them. but when winds abruptly changed direction, strickland said conditions quickly deteriorated.
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“the wind shifted, and we felt temperatures climbing like 30 degrees,” he said. “we all knew: oh, that’s not good.”
a wildfire burns near summerland on the night of aug. 7, 2026.
matt strickland
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for postmedia news
within minutes, he said, the evacuation alert came. “we packed up as quick as we could, and then got out of there.”
“the conditions were really bad. it was hard to breathe. it was very, very smoky,” he said.
the group drove to penticton and spent the night in a walmart parking lot. deteriorating air quality there quickly made staying in the area impossible, strickland said.
with highway 97 closed, they eventually made their way east to cranbrook, where they remained sunday.
‘high potential’ for new fires, warns b.c. wildfire service
the b.c. wildfire service is warning that there is a “high potential” for more lightning-caused wildfires, especially in b.c.’s central interior and okanagan.
in an update on sunday, the service said both areas are experiencing some precipitation and dry lightning. it also said higher temperatures and stronger wind gusts are expected to continue in the okanagan and southeast b.c.
the service said small fires in steep terrain are especially concerning, because wind and slope can help fires grow quickly.
to report a wildfire, call 1-800-663-5555 or *5555 on your cellphone, or use the b.c. wildfire service app and hit “report a wildfire.”
bald range wildfire: more residents ordered to evacuate
there’s another evacuation order related to the bald range wildfire,
the regional district of okanagan-similkameen has order everyone in the brent lake & shingle creek electoral area “f” to evacuate immediately. here is a map of the location:
the district says evacuees should head to the penticton trade and convention centre (273 power st.) to register.
there are now more than 100 wildfires burning in b.c.
there are 102 active wildfires burning in b.c. as of sunday morning, including five started in the past 24 hours, according to the b.c. wildfire service. four are considered wildfires of note, including the bald range wildfire that led to the evacuation of more than 20,000 people and had grown to more than 100 square kilometres as of sunday. nearly half of the wildfires are considered out of control.
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the service is also warning that continuing hot and dry conditions have led to extreme fire behaviour in southern b.c.
showers and thunderstorms are forecast in cariboo, prince george and southeast fire centres, with a heightened risk of dry lightning over the next couple of days.
smoke is likely to linger over southern parts of the province in the coming days, especially over the southeast. the wildfire service said sunday that reduced visibility is making aircraft monitoring and detection difficult, so public reports are critical “as they are our eyes and ears on the ground.”
drivebc: don’t trust google maps
drivebc is asking drivers to double check its website for the latest updates on wildfire closures, evacuation orders and advisories. the service says google maps is “having issues displaying correct updated information.”
watch: how to protect yourself and your home from wildfires
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