An estimated 230 homes have been destroyed by wildfires near Vernon, B.C., according to the chief of the Okanagan Indian Band, as fires continue to threaten communities across the province.
The chief said roughly 30 of the destroyed homes belong to Okanagan Indian Band members, while another 200 belonged to non-members. Provincial officials say they do not yet have an overall estimate of homes destroyed across B.C. this year, as assessments are still ongoing.
Approximately 8,000 people across the province are currently under evacuation order, with an additional 7,300 told to be ready to leave on short notice. Many of the affected properties are in the Vernon area, where the Quilpituk Creek and Bradley Creek wildfires are burning.
The Bradley Creek wildfire forced evacuations to Kal Tire Place in Vernon, which quickly became the region's main evacuation centre, according to media reports. With space limited on the first night, some evacuees slept in their vehicles rather than inside the facility. In Desert Cove, a community in Spallumcheen, all of the roughly 800 residents were given about 20 minutes to leave once the order came through, according to media reports.
Officials are urging British Columbians across the province, even those not currently under threat, to pre-register for provincial Emergency Support Services as a precaution.
As of Tuesday morning, six wildfires classified as major are burning in B.C. In total, about 120 wildfires are active across the province, with more than 50 of them listed as out of control. Officials have described this year's conditions as unusually severe, citing fuel dryness levels not previously recorded in the province.
No wildfire deaths have been reported in B.C. so far this year.
In response to criticism over the pace of the province's wildfire response, officials say decisions are being made directly by crews on the ground rather than by provincial staff in Victoria or Kamloops, with crew and evacuee safety treated as the top priority before structure defence begins.
U.S. firefighters are not currently being deployed to assist in B.C., since the Pacific Northwest, particularly the area around Spokane, Washington, is dealing with its own severe wildfire season and is operating at the highest level of national fire preparedness. Some fires have crossed from the northern U.S. into B.C., and crews from both countries are coordinating closely, including on aircraft operations.
Firefighting efforts in some areas are also being slowed by terrain, with crews unable to access steep or difficult-to-reach fire zones, and by smoke reducing visibility enough to ground aircraft in certain conditions.
Looking ahead, northern B.C. continues to see comparatively low fire risk due to higher-than-normal snowpack and consistent precipitation this year, while southern B.C. and the Interior remain at elevated risk due to drought conditions. Forecasters say the coming days could bring reduced thunderstorm activity and wind, which may limit new fire starts, since most fires in the province are ignited by lightning, and could ease the erratic fire behaviour seen over the weekend. Hot, dry conditions are still expected to persist through the week.
