Bald Range wildfire near Summerland grows to more than 17,800 hectares

The Bald Range wildfire near Summerland has expanded significantly, now covering over 17,800 hectares and pushing closer to the Regional District of Central Okanagan boundary and the community of Peachland. Clear skies last night contributed to heightened fire activity, as noted by the BC Wildfire Service, which also highlighted the exceptionally dry and receptive nature of fuels to ignition.

As of Tuesday morning, there are more than 101 active fires across the province, with 904 wildfires having burned a total of 390,000 hectares. Minister of Forests Ravi Parmar emphasized the ongoing focus on combating wildfires and anticipated weather conditions. On Tuesday, officials warned of a high potential for lightning-caused wildfires, particularly in the central Interior and Okanagan regions experiencing limited precipitation and dry lightning.

Temperatures and wind gusts remain elevated in the Okanagan and southeastern B.C., increasing fire behavior risks. The service is especially concerned about smaller fires in steep terrain where wind and slope alignment can rapidly escalate fire growth. On Monday, the B.C. government imposed a ban on all off-road vehicles on Crown land, citing extreme conditions and the need to prevent unintentional human-caused wildfires.

BC Wildfire Service director Cliff Chapman acknowledged the inconvenience but stressed the necessity of the decision to prevent additional wildfires. Firefighting efforts and weather patterns will continue to be closely monitored.