British Columbia's 'brutal' wildfire season offers lessons, Premier David Eby says
Premier David Eby said British Columbia will review wildfire response after the Bald Range fire forced about 20,000 residents to flee and destroyed homes.
- On Wednesday, Premier David Eby ordered a review of wildfire management after the Bald Range fire killed an 80-year-old woman west of Summerland, calling the death a "tragic loss."
- The Bald Range wildfire expanded about 6.5 square kilometres overnight to reach 184 square kilometres by Wednesday, as Eby noted the "horrific" blaze outran modeling and forced 20,000 residents to evacuate.
- Online footage showed houses reduced to blackened foundations in Faulder, home to about 215 residents, while Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen officials confirmed the zone remains active and unsafe with no return timeline.
- Hugh Murdoch with the Wildfire Service warned of "lingering" hazards including downed power lines, while Emergency Management Minister Kelly Greene emphasized safety prevents farmers from accessing crops and animals in the evacuation zone.
- Premier Eby stated the province will evaluate requirements for new builds in "interface" areas, including sprinkler systems and exterior cladding, to improve resilience as British Columbia grapples with worsening drought.
28 Articles
28 Articles
Penticton Western News
Premier says interface practices need change in wake of Summerland wildfire
With the Bald Range Wildfire that caught even the BC Wildfire Service off guard with its rapid speed of spread still burning just kilometres away, Premier David Eby acknowledged the need to change its approach to forests and interface land. The Bald Range Wildfire erupted on Aug. 7, crossing 15 kilometres to threaten the District of Summerland and force the community to evacuate in its entirety. Eby spoke to media and the public at a press confe…
Speed of 'horrific' wildfire in B.C.'s Okanagan outran modelling: Premier David Eby
By Brieanna Charlebois Premier David Eby says a “horrific” wildfire that has forced some 20,000 people out of their homes in British Columbia’s south Okanagan region moved at a dizzying speed, forcing wildfire crews to pivot from fighting flames to helping residents flee. The blaze that surged last Friday may represent a “new normal” when it comes to the speed of wildfires, Eby told a briefing in Penticton, B.C., where many evacuees have gathere…
Expert says British Columbians should now expect active wildfire summers most years
Quiet wildfire seasons are becoming a thing of the past, according to a leading expert based in Kamloops who says British Columbians should start expecting busy and potentially smoky summers more often than not. Thompson Rivers University wildfire scientist Mike Flannigan previously declared the 202...
British Columbia’s ‘brutal’ wildfire season offers lessons, Premier David Eby says
PENTICTON — British Columbia's wildfire season has turned "brutal" after a delayed start, with a blaze that moved at a dizzying speed in the south Okanagan, offering lessons for protecting communities moving forward, Premier David Eby said Wednesday. E...
The Peach Festival in Penticton, British Columbia, is a renowned summer tradition in Western Canada, attracting countless visitors every summer. Its Saturday morning parade is one of the largest summer parades in the Inland Area.
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