The Summerland wildfire evacuation has upended life across British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley. An explosive blaze near Summerland triggered a provincial state of emergency and pushed more than 20,000 residents out of their homes. Meanwhile, RCMP officers are investigating a possible death linked to the fire, adding a somber note to an already chaotic weekend.

Premier David Eby described the fire’s growth as sudden and violent, saying it moved “like a bomb” as it tore east toward Summerland and Peachland along Okanagan Lake. As a result, firefighting helicopters had to divert mid-mission to rescue dozens of people trapped by the flames.

Flames Force Mass Evacuations Across the Okanagan

The fire, known as the Bald Range fire, ignited around 5:30 p.m. Friday. Within hours, it had grown to more than 100 square kilometres, racing 15 kilometres toward the lake. Consequently, officials ordered Summerland’s roughly 12,000 residents to evacuate entirely just after midnight Saturday.

The wildfire evacuation orders didn’t stop there. More than 8,000 people near Peachland also had to leave, along with residents of over 400 properties in the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen. In addition, evacuation alerts stretched as far as the northern edge of Penticton, where many displaced families sought shelter.

Highway 97 closed between Peachland and Penticton, and roads quickly jammed with fleeing vehicles. At the same time, the fire destroyed homes in Faulder, a community of several dozen houses and rural properties. Officials say the flame front rolled right to the waterline north of Summerland.

Forests Minister Ravi Parmar confirmed that 18 firefighting aircraft rescued more than 50 people from areas cut off by the flames. Meanwhile, search-and-rescue crews continued working behind the fire lines throughout Saturday, checking for anyone else who might still be trapped.

‘Like Doomsday’: Residents Describe Their Escape

Summerland resident Anette Boulet fled before dawn with her husband, son, mother-in-law, and five dogs. She said the fire “looked like doomsday” as it approached, and her family stayed in their home as long as they safely could.

“We were just in our house and seeing big black ashes coming down,” Boulet said, recalling the moments before they finally left. Her family had only moved into the home four months earlier, and she didn’t know whether it was still standing.

Kriss Campbell helped evacuate animals from a friend’s pig sanctuary in Summerland as the fire closed in. She watched from Garnet Valley Road as flames crested a nearby mountain range. “I’ve never seen anything like it,” she said, adding that the fire stopped just metres from the property.

Homeowners Kerry Gold and Mike Elsinga, who had recently moved from Vancouver into a restored heritage home, fled around 12:30 a.m. Saturday. Gold said the situation was “scary” and moving fast, while Elsinga described a “massive plume” of smoke that appeared just hours before flames became visible.

At the Penticton evacuation centre, volunteers handed out water and snacks while food trucks served free meals. Vehicles covered in ash filled the parking lot, and evacuees carried pets, including cats, dogs, and even goats, as they waited for news about their homes.

Officials Respond as Search and Rescue Continues

RCMP said in a statement that evacuations proved especially difficult in areas cut off by the flames. A resident of Meadow Valley, west of Summerland, reported the possible death, and police are now working with the BC Coroners Service to confirm details.

Cliff Chapman, director of wildfire operations with the BC Wildfire Service, praised the coordinated rescue effort. He said the outcome would have been far worse without agencies working together across jurisdictions to save lives in Summerland.

Eby’s office later confirmed reports of “significant structure loss,” though full assessments will likely come from local government officials once the active fire zone becomes safer to inspect. About 350 buildings have been destroyed by fires across the Cariboo and Okanagan regions this summer.

Emergency Management Minister Kelly Greene said the declared state of emergency gives the province additional tools to respond to the escalating situation. She noted there are no formal travel restrictions, though officials are asking people to avoid the Summerland area entirely.

Prime Minister Mark Carney offered federal support and thanked firefighters and first responders for their efforts. He said he was keeping evacuated families in his thoughts while hoping for a safe return home soon.

Of the more than 100 wildfires currently burning in B.C., nearly half are classified as out of control. Hot, windy conditions combined with long-term drought have fuelled the fires, and officials warn similar explosive fire behaviour could still develop elsewhere in the province.