![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1786350732_521_default.jpg\")
<\/p>\nRCMP have confirmed a fatality in the explosive wildfire that forced mass evacuations from Summerland, B.C., over the weekend. <\/p>\n
The Bald Range wildfire broke out shortly after 5 p.m. PT on Friday about 15 kilometres from the city, and grew rapidly, forcing tactical evacuations \u2014 some involving firefighting helicopters. <\/p>\n
Penticton RCMP said Sunday it had confirmed at least one person died as a result of the fire. <\/p>\n
Police said an 80-year-old woman “died suddenly” while trying to flee the fire with her family. <\/p>\n
“Police believe her death to be a result of the wildfire,” the RCMP said. <\/p>\n
WATCH | RCMP confirms fatality in wildfire near Summerland:<\/p>\n
B.C. wildfires: Thousands flee Summerland, RCMP confirms death of 80-year-old<\/p>\n
British Columbia’s unprecedented wildfire emergency has forced thousands to flee from the community of Summerland and some surrounding areas. The RCMP also confirmed the death of an 80-year-old woman who was trying to flee on Friday.<\/p>\n
Police said the B.C. Coroners Service was investigating, and that there were no other known fatalities related to the fire. <\/p>\n
As of Sunday, the fire had grown to 136 square kilometers in size. About 12,000 residents, along with people in surrounding areas including southern Peachland remain under evacuation orders. <\/p>\n
The remainder of Peachland and areas south of Summerland and west of Penticton are on evacuation alerts. The Penticton Indian Band has also declared a state of emergency. <\/p>\n
Smoke from the fire has led to multiple flight cancellations at the Kelowna airport. <\/p>\n
Interior Health said it helped transport more than 200 residents out of Summerland and into safe locations, and has set up a hotline<\/a> for families looking to reunite with loved ones. <\/p>\n Downtown Summerland spared<\/p>\n A city official said Sunday that Summerland’s downtown has survived the fire intact. <\/p>\n “I was in downtown Summerland myself yesterday as late as 2 a.m. [PT] and everything is fine,” Summerland Chief Administrative Officer Graham Statt told a Regional District of Okangan-Similkameen livestream on Sunday. <\/p>\n “There is active fires around the community still that are being dealt with and there are some hotspots and stuff … but downtown Summerland hasn\u2019t been destroyed, anything like that.\u201d <\/p>\n Summerland Mayor Doug Holmes, however, said there were losses in the area. <\/p>\n “We know structures have been lost. We don\u2019t know how many,” Holmes said.<\/p>\n Holmes added there was no timeline for residents to return, adding that power lines are down and water supplies are likely contaminated.<\/p>\n “Until we know all of that infrastructure is safe, we can\u2019t really let people back,” he said. <\/p>\n “We will be leaning on the province for support to make sure that everything is safe for people to get back and return to their homes,” he said. <\/p>\n Statt said planning is underway for a phased re-entry. <\/p>\n Some groups, like those who work with livestock, have been allowed temporary access to care for animals, he said. <\/p>\n Leah Gibbs, who lives at the base of Bald Range above Summerland, said she knew it was time to evacuate when she saw a helicopter refill water from her family’s property.<\/p>\n “When we drove out, we could see the horses running around into the flames and into the smoke,” she said. <\/p>\n “It was gut wrenching,” she added. “Not knowing whether they would live or die and not knowing if you would have a house to go home to.” <\/p>\n Many residents are now sheltering in Penticton, which has set up a resource hub for evacuees<\/a>. Due to limited accommodations, evacuees are being urged to stay with friends or family if possible. <\/p>\n Not everyone wanted to flee. <\/p>\n Jim Ure has been a Summerland resident for the past 34 years.<\/p>\n “[I] don\u2019t want to see it go away. Hence I might stay,” he explained. “My wife said she wants to go.”<\/p>\n Provincial and local emergency officials have urged everyone to obey evacuation orders, and say defying them puts lives at risk. <\/p>\n Firefight far from over<\/p>\n Much of the province’s southern Interior is currently listed at the federal government<\/a>‘s highest level of drought intensity. <\/p>\n “It is very drought driven. There\u2019s a lot of drought in the Okanagan right now,” said Nicole Bonnett, BCWS incident commander on the Bald Range fire.<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1786350732_220_default.jpg\")
A look at the Bald Range fire burning between Summerland and Peachland as seen from Naramata, B.C., on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026. (Ben Nelms\/CBC)<\/p>\n![\"People](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1786350733_651_default.jpg\")
Heavy smoke from the Bald Range wildfire near Okanagan Lake is blanketing Penticton, B.C., on Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (Ben Nelms\/CBC)’Gut wrenching’<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1786350734_133_default.jpg\")
Evacuees from the Bald Range fire are pictured at the evacuation centre in Penticton, B.C., on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026. (Ben Nelms\/CBC)<\/p>\n