Immediate evacuation order issued as Bald Range wildfire threatens Summerland-Peachland area

A BC Emergency Alert was issued Friday night as the Bald Range wildfire prompted evacuation orders in areas between Summerland and Peachland.

Boundary Sentinel graphic.

OKANAGAN — Residents in Faulder, Garnet Valley, Deer Ridge and areas south of Peachland are among those ordered to leave, while a new evacuation alert was issued farther along Princeton-Summerland Road at 9 p.m.

A BC Emergency Alert is ordering people across parts of the Summerland-Peachland area to evacuate immediately Friday night because of the Bald Range wildfire.

The alert was issued at 8:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7, by the Regional Districts of Okanagan-Similkameen and Central Okanagan. Officials said the wildfire was creating a significant risk to life and anyone inside the evacuation-order area must leave immediately.

The emergency alert covers the Brent Road and Log Chute Road area south of Peachland; Faulder; the area from Darke Lake south to Bathville Road, including Garnet Valley and Deer Ridge; areas west of Cartwright on Prairie Valley Road; and Princeton-Summerland Highway to kilometre 15.

People affected by the order are directed to 550 Eckhardt Avenue West in Penticton or the Westbank Lions Community Centre at 2466 Main Street in West Kelowna. Anyone unable to evacuate is instructed to call 911.

The RDOS had already issued an evacuation order effective at 8 p.m. for the Summerland-Princeton and Garnet Valley area because of what it described as an immediate danger to life safety.

That order covers an area extending west to approximately kilometre 15 of Summerland-Princeton Road, north past Darke Lake, south to Bathville Road and east to Garnet Valley and Highway 97.

Central Okanagan Emergency Management issued a separate evacuation order at 8:01 p.m. for properties in the Brent Road area south of Peachland. Residents there were specifically instructed to evacuate north.

The Central Okanagan order lists the affected addresses as 7210 to 7100 Brent Road, 7280 to 6801 Highway 97 South, and 307 to 303 Log Chute Road. Residents should check the Central Okanagan emergency map to determine whether their individual property is within the order area.

Emergency officials say people leaving the Central Okanagan order area should follow the directions of emergency personnel, take critical items such as medication, wallets and keys if they are immediately available, and take pets in kennels or on leash. Residents are also asked not to use more vehicles than necessary.

New evacuation alert issued at 9 p.m.

The evacuation area continued to change after the emergency alert was sent.

At 9 p.m., the RDOS issued a new Evacuation Alert for an additional area along the Princeton-Summerland corridor.

The alert covers the area from approximately kilometre 15 of Princeton-Summerland Road to the eastern boundary of Electoral Area H and north of Darke Lake.

People in that alert area are not under an evacuation order, but the RDOS says they must be prepared to leave. Residents are being advised to review their evacuation plans, pack essential items, pre-register for Emergency Support Services and monitor official emergency information because changing conditions could mean limited notice before an evacuation.

Central Okanagan Emergency Management is also asking the public to stay away from the affected area so emergency responders can work safely.

An Evacuation Order means people are at risk and must leave immediately. An Evacuation Alert means people should be ready to leave on short notice.

As of approximately 10:20 p.m. Friday, the 8:30 p.m. BC Emergency Alert remained in effect, and the 9 p.m. RDOS Evacuation Alert was the newest evacuation notice verified from official sources.

This is a developing story and will be updated as new official information becomes available.