Wildfire Forces 20,000 to Evacuate Two B.C. Towns

Roughly 20,000 residents of Summerland and Peachland, B.C., faced immediate evacuation on August 8, 2026, as the Bald Range wildfire bore down on both communities. Emergency Info BC warned of "significant risk to life" and directed evacuees to Penticton. Power failed across Summerland during the evacuation. Structural damage remains unassessed. The fire is tracked as incident K51490 in the 2026 fire year.