The Bald Range wildfire near Summerland, Canada, remains held at a size of 25,163 hectares. As firefighting crews enter their fourth week of battling the blaze, the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) has reported that the immediate threat to structures has diminished. Mop-up operations have been completed within 100 feet of homes and other valuable areas in Summerland, leading to the demobilization of structure protection equipment.
Ongoing mop-up operations are being conducted along the fire’s perimeter, where crews are working to extinguish heat located 50 to 100 feet in from the fire’s edge. Firefighters are utilizing a combination of aerial thermal scans and ground patrols to identify and address hot spots. Heavy equipment crews have successfully established control and contingency lines around the wildfire.
Recent weather changes have introduced “fall-like” conditions, characterized by lower temperatures and increased humidity. On the night of August 29, the fire area received approximately five to eight millimeters of rain, with some regions in the southwest receiving up to 11 millimeters. However, BCWS has noted that the drought conditions experienced earlier in the year continue to affect fuel moisture levels, keeping them dry and potentially influencing fire behavior until further rainfall occurs.
Residents are advised that they may still observe smoke and signs of active fire within the Bald Range fire perimeter as unburned fuels continue to smolder. If anyone suspects they are witnessing a new fire or unusual activity, they can report it through the BC Wildfire Service mobile app or by calling 1-800-663-5555 (or *5555 from a cell phone).
BCWS has also cautioned residents returning to areas affected by the fire to be aware of potential safety hazards. These may include unstable trees, possible rockfall along roads impacted by the fire, areas of heat, and landscape changes such as ash pits, unstable soils, and damaged or irregular terrain. Although several evacuation orders have been lifted, an area restriction remains in effect until September 12 or until the order is rescinded. This restriction aims to limit public interference in areas where fire suppression activities are ongoing.
Public safety remains a priority, and the aviation section of BCWS is facilitating the use of a drone over various areas within the Bald Range wildfire perimeter, in coordination with local authorities to ensure safe operation within restricted airspace. Unsanctioned drone activity near a wildfire is illegal and poses risks to operational safety. Reports of unauthorized drones in active wildfire areas can be made to the RCMP.
In areas where the fire has passed, residents should remain vigilant for safety hazards, including unstable trees and potential rockfall along impacted roads. BCWS has implemented an area restriction covering the Bald Range fire perimeter, and residents with questions about access to evacuation order areas, including parts of the Princeton-Summerland Road, are encouraged to contact the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen. There are also closures and advisories in place at local parks, recreation sites, and trails, with further details available through BC Parks advisories and the Recreation Sites and Trails map.
As weather patterns shift towards fall, temperatures are decreasing and relative humidity is increasing, particularly at night when fire activity had previously been more pronounced. Despite recent rainfall, underlying drought conditions continue to affect fuel moisture levels, which will influence fire behavior until additional rain is received. Alongside BC Wildfire Service and contracted crews, 100 Mexican wildland firefighters, as well as crews from Alberta and Quebec, are actively engaged in managing the Bald Range wildfire. Heavy equipment has completed the establishment of primary control lines and contingency lines further from the fire’s edge. Water tenders will continue to supply ground crews with necessary water as operations progress.
Source: lakecountrycalendar.com
