BC in Ongoing State of Emergency as Crews Battle 104 Wildfires Across Province

The Bald Range wildfire, that has forced people out of their homes in the south Okanagan region, burns in Summerland, B.C., late on Aug.8, 2026. Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP

British Columbia continues to be under a state of emergency as teams fight against more than 100 wildfires, 49 percent of which are considered out of control.

This includes the Bald Range wildfire, which has resulted in the evacuation of 20,000 people in the central Interior and Okanagan regions of British Columbia, officials say. The fast-moving blaze has destroyed homes, triggered air rescues, and prompted ongoing emergency response updates from the BC Wildfire Service.

A combination of “extreme regional heat, low fuel moisture, and wind activity continue to drive high-intensity fire lines,” the wildfire service warned in an early morning update on Aug. 10.

That increased fire risk was exacerbated by dry lightning in the area on Aug. 9, and the service noted that small fires in steep areas are especially worrisome due to the potential for wind and slope to accelerate their spread.

The warning comes as more than 104 wildfires are raging in the province as of early on Aug. 10, including three that have ignited within the past 24 hours. Four have been labelled wildfires of note and 51 wildfires are considered out of control.

The province currently has 42 active evacuation orders and 51 active evacuation alerts, which impact approximately 24,500 individuals subject to mandatory orders and 12,300 residents under alerts.

Bald Range Wildfire

The Bald Range wildfire, which had increased to more than 13,000 hectares late on Aug. 9, resulted in the evacuation of more than 12,000 residents in Summerland and 8,000 in Peachland over the weekend.

West Kelowna-Peachland MLA Macklin McCall said the fire was so close at the time of evacuation in the area that families had “embers landing in their cars as they fled.”

Central Okanagan Emergency Management said the blaze was burning west of Summerland and continued to impact areas within the Regional District of Central Okanagan and the District of Peachland.

“The Peachland Fire & Rescue is working closely with BC Wildfire Service to support structure protection efforts in the area,” the regional organization said in an evening update on Aug. 9. “These activities are focused on reducing risk to homes and critical infrastructure while crews continue wildfire response operations.”

Other Wildfires of Note

Three other wildfires of note also continue to challenge fire crews in the southern part of the province.

The Ainslie Creek fire in the Fraser Canyon region was officially mapped at nearly 52,000 hectares as of early Aug. 10 and continues to be classified as out of control. It has been averaging approximately 1,438 hectares of growth per day since it started on July 4.

“This footprint reflects the official merger with the former Anderson Creek fire zone east of the Fraser River,” the wildfire service said. “Crews are prioritizing structural protection and monitoring nearby transit infrastructure.”

The Brunswick Creek fire, being managed alongside the neighbouring Ainslie Creek wildfire, has burned upwards of 8,700 hectares and is also classified as out of control. It was first detected on July 2 burning near the community of Boston Bar.

The blaze is currently producing “significant smoke volumes” and has triggered active local evacuation alerts, officials said. Residents are expected to be prepared to leave on short notice.

The Pear Lake fire is part of the Big Bar Complex north of Kamloops. The blaze had grown to 142,900 hectares as of early on Aug. 10 and remains classified as out of control, the wildfire service said.

“An evacuation order remains active for the Village of Clinton while heavy equipment operators fortify perimeter guards along the Highway 97 corridor,” it said.

Meanwhile, smoke from the wildfires has triggered yellow and orange air quality warnings from Environment Canada across portions of B.C. and Alberta. An orange means high risk, where the Air Quality Health Index reaches or exceeds 10, while yellow air quality warning indicates moderate risk when the index is forecast to reach 7 or higher.

Merritt, Kelowna, Revelstoke, Castlegar, Cranbrook, and the surrounding areas were under an orange advisory early on Aug. 10, while areas further north in the the province and portions of Alberta, including Banff, were under a yellow advisory.

Bradley Creek Wildfire

Meanwhile, a wildfire that destroyed more than 200 homes in B.C.’s Okanagan is being held and is no longer classified as out of control.

“Ground crews have completed a full perimeter guard containment line,” the B.C. Wildfire Service said on Aug. 10. “The incident has officially been downgraded from a Wildfire of Note and is now classified as ‘Being Held’.”

The Bradley Creek wildfire’s effects are still being felt, however, and will be for some time to come, according to Okanagan Indian Band Chief Dan Wilson.

“Some of our people are beginning to return home, others are still waiting, and some families are facing the loss of their homes and a much longer road ahead,” the chief said in a late night statement with band council on Aug. 9.

The Okanagan Indian Band was devastated by the rapid Bradley Creek wildfire, which broke out on July 31 and swept through reserve lands with very little warning a day later. Fuelled by extreme winds, the blaze forced mass evacuations just outside the city of Vernon.

The more than 2,600-hectare fire destroyed an estimated 230 properties—including 30 band-member homes and 200 non-member structures—before firefighting crews and improved conditions shifted the fire status to being held.

“This emergency has touched our families, our neighbours and the places we all know. There is a long road ahead, but it is our road,” the statement said. “We will work through it together, as neighbours, families and community. We will keep our people at the centre of every decision we make.”