Videos capture aftermath of Summerland fire in Faulder, residents say it was ‘errie’

The community of Faulder, British Columbia, was devastated by a rapidly spreading wildfire that began near Summerland on Friday afternoon. The Bald Range fire, now covering more than 15,500 hectares, forced residents to evacuate their homes early on Saturday morning.

Rick and Brock Leitner, residents of Faulder, captured harrowing videos of the aftermath as they fled the scene. Rick described the scene as "really eerie" with the dense bush making it difficult to see more than a few feet in front of them. The once-dense forest now reveals stick-like trees and a gray, barren ground.

Rick expressed deep sorrow for his friends and neighbors who have lost everything, stating that many will now have nowhere to live, no tools, and nothing. He noted that only a few homes remain standing after the destructive blaze, with vehicles charred and trees reduced to matchsticks.

Brock shared the videos with Global News in hopes of providing answers to the questions of friends and neighbors. He wished to know if his own home was still standing and expressed empathy for those affected by the disaster. Rick acknowledged the potential to offend some while sharing the videos and expressed regret if they did cause offense.