B.C. is in a state of emergency as crews battle a number of wildfires around the province, including the massive Bald Range fire in the Okanagan. The B.C. Wildfire Service said it’s “extremely concerned” about intentionally set and accidental wildfires in a drought-stricken province.

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B.C. Wildfires Updates: Air quality worsens in east Fraser Valley | Eby, Greene meet with officials in Penticton | Summerland blaze continues to grow | Arson a major concern Back to video

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

SCENES FROM THE BALD RANGE WILDFIRE

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Wednesday, Aug. 12

Air quality warning reissued for eastern Fraser Valley

After a reprieve with clearer skies in the past couple of days, Metro Vancouver has once again issued an air quality warning for the eastern Fraser Valley.

The yellow warning — less serious than orange in the colour-coded system used in B.C. — was issued Wednesday afternoon for Chilliwack, Agassiz and Hope, the latter of which was already seeing smoke move in earlier in the day.

Hazy conditions are expected across eastern parts of the Fraser Valley due to smoke coming from wildfires in the South Cariboo, the southern Interior, and the complex of wildfires near Boston Bar.

Metro Vancouver predicts winds from the west will strengthen through the afternoon, possibly bringing cleaner air to the region.

Two other parts of southern B.C., the south Okanagan and Fraser Canyon, are under orange warnings, which indicates a “very high” health risk from poor air quality. Many other areas across the south of the province have yellow warnings in place.

Eby, Greene meet with local officials in Penticton

Premier David Eby and Kelly Greene, B.C.’s minister of emergency management and climate readiness met with local officials in Penticton Wednesday afternoon to discuss the wildfire situation.

Following the meetings, Eby said he was impressed by what he’s seen from volunteers and professionals in his first few hours in the fire zone, calling it “highly inspiring and incredibly moving.”

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He said the overriding message from evacuees has been how quickly the fire spread, saying this kind of rapid fire activity might be “our new normal” in B.C.

Eby reassured residents forced out of their homes that they will get help, noting they may have to stay away for a while yet.

Greene said a large number of first responders are travelling through the evacuated areas doing damage assessments and providing security for the empty homes.

She said it was too early to say when residents can check on their homes themselves, but that officials are making direct contact with anyone who has lost property to the blaze..

Smoke in Penticton clears a bit overnight

For the first time in days, Penticton woke to blue sky. The smoke that had smothered the city cleared overnight, and the South Okanagan’s air quality reading dropped to 3 — “low risk” — on the province’s Air Quality Health Index Wednesday morning, a reprieve for residents and evacuees.

It isn’t expected to last. Environment officials forecast the index climbing back to 9 — “high risk,” near the top of the scale — later Wednesday and holding at 8 through Thursday night.

Bald Range wildfire in Summerland continues to grow

The B.C. Wildfire Service says the Bald Range wildfire in Summerland, which has caused one death, the evacuation of thousands of people and extensive property loss, continues to spread in B.C.’s Okanagan region.

The latest update Wednesday has the fire mapped at more than 184 square kilometres, up from 156 square kilometres the day before.

The update says more wind gusts are expected from the north over the next few days.

Fire officials say there is also a chance of a thunderstorm Wednesday, which could bring erratic winds that fan the flames.

They hope that more cloud cover and slightly cooler weather today will aid in the battle.

Fire officials say the cause of the blaze, which sparked late Friday about 15 kilometres west of Summerland, remains under investigation.

What’s happening with B.C.’s other wildfires of note?

As of Wednesday, there are more than 100 wildfires in B.C., with about half of those burning out of control. Of those, there are four wildfires of note, including the Bald Range wildfire in Summerland.

There are three other wildfires of note, including the Pear Lake wildfire—B.C.’s biggest blaze— which has destroyed properties near Clinton in the Cariboo region. That fire is now mapped at more than 1,476 square kilometres. There are eight evacuation orders affecting thousands of residents and seven evacuation alerts.

Fire officials say wind is driving the Pear Lake fire although some cooler weather with precipitation is helping slow the spread.

The other two wildfires of note are the Brunswick Creek and Ainslie Creek wildfires—or Brunswick Complex— in the Fraser Canyon region. The complex is now mapped at 700 square kilometres.

For both fires there are 12 evacuation orders and 15 evacuation alerts, including a new evacuation alert for 15 properties along the Coquihalla Highway in the Coquihalla Lakes area north of Hope.

Summerland evacuees face lineups, uncertainty — and an outpouring of help

PENTICTON — Walt Nickerson pushed a cart of groceries and supplies out of the Real Canadian Superstore on Monday evening, three days into a life he hadn’t planned for.

He left Summerland after a 1:30 a.m. call Saturday from his landlord telling him everyone was fleeing. Running on 2½ hours of sleep, he pulled into Penticton around 3, set a chair beside his vehicle in the parking lot of the casino where he works, poured a coffee and waited for the doors to open at 10. When they did, staff told the evacuees in the lot that breakfast, lunch and supper were on the house — and opened it to everyone.

“A lot of places did that,” he said. “That was phenomenal.”

The support has come in pieces, each with its own line to stand in: a $112 food voucher, a $150 clothing allowance, $50 for hygiene essentials, a two-night motel stay. The food voucher, he said, doesn’t go far.

TUESDAY, AUG. 11

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.

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.

Officials said once it is safe to enter the burned areas, an assessment of property damage will be done. Evacuees are being asked to stay out of the evacuation order areas.

Forests Minister Ravi Parmar also 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 have enough fires to fight. Please don’t give them another one.”

Agriculture Minister Lana Popham said there are 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.”

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.

Drought increasing across B.C., says minister

Water, Land and Resource Stewardship Minister Randene Neill says drought has been increasing across the province but it is particularly bad in the Okanagan, Nicola and Thompson regions.

She said conserving water is critical and will be into next season.

Neill said Okanagan Lake, for example, is at its lowest level on record.

“If we don’t have significant recharge in those areas, in those watersheds, we’ll start next season in potentially an even worse situation than we are this summer. So it’s critical that we do our part this year to really ensure that we conserve water as much as we can,” said Neill.

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, in