After enduring over a week of tension and worry, the majority of Summerland, B.C., residents are now able to return home. Mayor Doug Holmes expressed relief, stating that this news had been eagerly anticipated by the community since the outbreak of the Bald Range wildfire on August 7, which tragically claimed the life of an 80-year-old woman. On Tuesday at 7 a.m. PT, an evacuation order affecting 3,380 properties was lifted, covering what Mayor Holmes described as the “majority of Summerland.”
The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen revealed in a briefing on Tuesday evening that efforts were underway to grant access to the remaining parts of Summerland in the coming days. Graham Statt, the District of Summerland’s chief administrative officer, mentioned ongoing geotechnical and power-related work aimed at opening up the rest of the community by Thursday. Statt emphasized the team’s dedication to restoring access to these areas promptly.
Over the weekend, evacuation orders were lifted for a smaller number of properties. This development brought relief to returning residents who had faced uncertainty and anxiety during the wildfire crisis. Jan Schumacher and Cory Lee Myers, two residents who were able to return home, shared their emotional experiences of fearing the loss of their properties and the overwhelming relief of finding their homes intact.
Summerland’s fire chief, Rob Robinson, highlighted the challenges faced during the wildfire, particularly in the Herron Road area. Despite the loss of some homes, Robinson commended the firefighting efforts that saved the downtown core. As of the latest update, 530 properties in Garnet Valley, Prairie Valley, and Meadow Valley are still under evacuation orders, while the rest of Summerland remains on evacuation alert.
Mayor Holmes reiterated the importance of safety, noting that areas under evacuation orders are deemed unsafe until further assessments are conducted. He also mentioned the ongoing challenges, such as a boil water advisory due to the water treatment plant being offline and the landfill fire necessitating waste transportation to another facility. The fire’s impact on structures within the municipality was reported, with social workers and counselors assisting those affected by property loss.
Despite progress in containing the fire, it is still classified as out of control, with firefighters focusing efforts on the aggressive behavior observed on the west side. As the community continues to recover, residents are grateful for the efforts that have allowed them to return home and begin the process of rebuilding and moving forward.
