Bald Range wildfire has expanded to 18,450 hectares as of Wednesday morning, prompting emergency officials to keep evacuation orders in place and to warn of worsening weather conditions.
Evacuation orders and access permits
The Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen Emergency Operations Centre confirmed that no changes to evacuation orders or alerts have been made. Currently 451 properties are under evacuation order and 1,065 are on alert. The entire town of Summerland, comprising 5,688 properties, remains under order, and the Penticton Indian Band has 38 properties ordered to leave and 1,082 on alert.
Temporary access permits are being issued, but demand is high. Applicants must demonstrate a valid reason for re‑entry and each request is assessed individually for safety and logistical considerations.
Weather forecast and fire behaviour
The BC Wildfire Service expects winds to pick up and the possibility of thunderstorms, which could create unstable gusts and intensify fire activity. Highway 97 remains closed, limiting movement for residents and responders.
Rapid damage assessments began in Trout Creek and North Beach on Tuesday and will continue when conditions allow. Officials stress that re‑entry cannot be scheduled until essential services, electricity, water, waste disposal and road safety, are restored.
For the first time since the fire ignited on Friday evening, the blaze is visible across Okanagan Lake from Naramata, underscoring the scale of the incident and the challenges facing emergency management in the region.
Based on reporting by Global News.