Canada wildfire: 80-year-old woman killed in British Columbia’s Summerland as raging inferno forces mass evacuation

Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) on Sunday (9 August) confirmed that an 80-year-old woman died in Summerland, British Columbia, after the Bald Range wildfire forced mass evacuations over the weekend.

In a media release, RCMP said, "An 80-year-old Meadow Valley resident was attempting to leave her home, along with one member of her family, due to the wildfires when she reportedly died suddenly," and added, "Police believe her death to be a result of the wildfire."

The police further noted that the British Columbia Coroners Service was investigating the woman's death, adding that there were no other known fatalities related to the fire so far.

Bald Range wildfire forces mass evacuations: What we know

The development follows the outbreak of the Bald Range wildfire shortly after 5 p.m. PT on 7 August, about 15 kilometres from the city. The blaze spread quickly, prompting tactical evacuations, with firefighting helicopters involved in some of the operations.

As of early Sunday, the fire had covered an estimated area of 10,341 hectares (25,552 acres) and was considered to be out of control.

Further, the Bald Range wildfire had grown to 136 square kilometres, with 12,000 residents and people in surrounding areas, including southern Peachland, remaining under evacuation orders. The remainder of Peachland, along with areas south of Summerland and west of Penticton, was placed under evacuation alerts, while the Penticton Indian Band also declared a state of emergency.

Earlier on 8 August, British Columbia officials declared a state of emergency after a fast-moving wildfire doubled in size and prompted the evacuation of roughly 20,000 people overnight, with some being airlifted to safety, AFP reported.

Meanwhile, smoke from the raging wildfire also led to several flight cancellations at Kelowna airport.

British Columbia to get assistance amid mass evacuations

On 9 August, the Canadian federal government said it would assist British Columbia by providing shelter and accommodation for residents displaced in the regions around Summerland and Peachland as the Bald Range wildfire prompted thousands of people to evacuate, Reuters reported.

In a social media post, Eleanor Olszewski, Canada's minister of emergency management and community resilience, said, "Last night, I approved a request for Federal Assistance from British Columbia to provide shelter and accommodations for people who have been forced to leave their homes due to wildfires across the province."

British Columbia Premier, Canada PM react to wildfire

In a statement released on 8 August (local time), British Columbia Premier David Eby said, "We know there have been significant losses of homes and property. We also know that some people became trapped as conditions changed quickly." He added, "Air evacuations are underway for people who remain isolated behind the fire perimeter."

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney also reacted to the Bald Range wildfire and expressed his gratitude to firefighters and first responders. In a post on X, Carney thanked them for "working tirelessly to keep people safe." He added, "The federal government stands ready to help and support the government of British Columbia in these efforts. I'm keeping everyone forced from their homes in my thoughts and hoping they can return safely soon."

Strong winds caused the wildfire to spread rapidly late on 7 August, sending flames into the Summerland area and impacting communities across the surrounding valleys.