SUMMERLAND WILDFIRE — THIS IS SERIOUS. PLEASE SHARE ACCURATE INFORMATION

🔥 SUMMERLAND WILDFIRE — THIS IS SERIOUS. PLEASE SHARE ACCURATE INFORMATION 🔥

The situation around Summerland has deteriorated very quickly.

The Bald Range wildfire, burning west/northwest of Summerland, exploded in size Friday evening. Reports indicate the fire grew to approximately 5,000 hectares (50 km²) in only a few hours, with extremely aggressive fire behaviour.

🚨 IMPORTANT: EVACUATION ORDERS HAVE NOW BEEN ISSUED FOR SUMMERLAND AND SURROUNDING AREAS.

The District of Summerland has issued an evacuation order. If you are in an area under an EVACUATION ORDER, leave immediately and follow the directions of emergency officials.

This is NOT simply an evacuation alert.

🛣️ ROADS & TRAVEL

Road conditions are changing rapidly because of the fire.

Highway 97 and surrounding routes may be closed, restricted or experiencing major delays. Check DriveBC immediately before travelling and follow directions from police and emergency crews.

Do NOT assume a route is safe because someone posted that it was open earlier.

🏠 IF YOU ARE EVACUATING

Take the essentials first:

• People and pets
• Medication and important medical information
• Identification, wallet and keys
• Phone, chargers and power banks
• Important documents
• A few days of clothing
• Food and water if readily available
• Anything irreplaceable that you can safely grab quickly

If you have elderly neighbours, people with disabilities, or anyone who may have difficulty evacuating, please check on them if you can do so safely.

Do not delay leaving because you are waiting to see what the fire does.

🐕🐈 DON'T FORGET THE ANIMALS

Take pets with you if you can. Use carriers or leashes.

If you have livestock or horses, follow instructions from local emergency officials and animal-emergency organizations.

Do not put yourself in danger trying to rescue animals after an evacuation order.

🏨 IF YOU HAVE BEEN EVACUATED

Evacuees can contact Emergency Support Services (ESS) for assistance.

📞 250-490-7359

The District of Summerland specifically lists this number for people evacuated from their homes.

📱 WHERE TO GET RELIABLE INFORMATION

During a rapidly changing wildfire, social media can become a mixture of old information, rumours and current information.

Please check the official sources directly:

🔥 BC Wildfire Service — wildfire information and fire status
🚨 EmergencyInfoBC — evacuation alerts and orders
🏛️ District of Summerland — local emergency information
📍 RDOS Emergency Operations Centre — regional emergency information
🛣️ DriveBC — highway closures, road conditions and webcams

👉 If you are in or near Summerland, please don't wait for a Facebook post to tell you what to do. Check your address against the official evacuation information.

And if you're outside the evacuation zone, please remember that the people leaving need the roads and emergency services to remain available.

💔 Thinking of everyone in Summerland, Trout Creek, Peachland and the surrounding communities tonight — and especially the firefighters, emergency crews, RCMP, volunteers, animal rescuers and everyone helping people get out safely.

Please leave when ordered. Please check on one another. And please share information, not rumours. ❤️‍🩹

#Summerland #BaldRangeWildfire #BCWildfires #Okanagan #Wildfire #Evacuation #SummerlandBC #Peachland #BCWildfireService