Activity picks up on the Bald Range wildfire near Summerland, Peachland
Strong winds and low humidity kept crews busy along the southwestern flank of the fire, which has now grown to more than 22,000 hectares.
The Bald Range wildfire continues to burn out of control near Summerland and Peachland, B.C. Strong fire behavior has been observed overnight, fueled by strong winds and low humidity. The blaze has now spread to over 22,000 hectares, presenting a formidable challenge for crews. Despite the hazardous terrain in the southern and western parts of the fire, crews are working tirelessly to contain it.
Highway 97 remains open, but the situation is far from settled. To facilitate the return of residents, air operations will be relocated to Penticton Airport by August 21, while the Summerland Secondary School field has served as a temporary helicopter landing area. The Summerland Arena and Curling Club have acted as the Incident Command Post, but will soon shift to an Incident Command Post in Okanagan Falls to make room for returning residents.
Local residents can anticipate seeing smoldering ground fires and smoke from within the fire perimeter over the coming weeks, a common occurrence and typically not a cause for concern. On Friday and Saturday, there is the potential for winds to intensify and temperatures to soar into the 30s, with humidity dropping to around 15 percent.
On Wednesday, crews conducted small-scale ignitions along the south flank to connect the fire’s edge with containment lines. They will continue to identify opportunities for additional ignitions as conditions permit.
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