Elderly Summerland Resident Dies as Bald Range Wildfire Forces Mass Evacuations

The wildfire that broke out near the Bald Range on Friday evening rapidly grew, covering roughly 136 square kilometres and forcing the evacuation of roughly 12,000 residents from Summerland, Peachland and surrounding locales. RCMP announced that an 80-year-old woman from Meadow Valley died suddenly while trying to exit her home with a relative, and the death is being treated as fire-related. No other fatalities have been reported, though the B.C. Coroners Service is conducting an inquiry.

Emergency officials have placed additional communities on alert, and the Penticton Indian Band has declared a state of emergency as smoke has caused flight cancellations at Kelowna airport. Interior Health helped move more than 200 evacuees to safe shelters and set up a hotline for family reunification. Downtown Summerland escaped major damage, but officials warn that power lines are down and water supplies may be contaminated, delaying a return for residents.