Summerland Mayor Doug Holmes made an emotional plea to his community to support each other through the ongoing wildfire evacuations. The fires have displaced over 21,400 people in British Columbia, with another 11,000 told to be ready to leave at a moment's notice. An elderly woman died while fleeing the Bald Range fire, which has burned over 156 square kilometers near Summerland. Mayor Holmes warned residents that when they eventually return home, "it's going to be hard" and they will need to prepare for what is left of their properties.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-21,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Summerland mayor makes emotional plea to community to brace for what's 'not there'
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what → make → community
The Latest
- 21,400 people remain ordered out of their homes in B.C. because of wildfire evacuations, while another 11,000 have been told to be ready to leave at a moment's notice.
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11,000 → order → notice
- The RCMP are investigating the cause of the Bald Range fire near Summerland, which broke out on Friday and has expanded to more than 156 square km.
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which → investigate → km
An 80-year-old woman died while fleeing.
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woman → die → ?
- Penticton RCMP are asking for the public's help identifying anything suspicious seen on Friday, but they are also advising the public not to speculate about the cause of the fire.
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they → ask → fire
- Police say an individual was fined for trying to charge a roadblock in an evacuation zone.
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individual → say → zone
- B.C.'s forests minister has banned off-road vehicles in parts of the province in an attempt to prevent new fire starts.
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minister → ban → starts
Pinned
Summerland mayor makes emotional plea
Summerland Mayor Doug Holmes got emotional talking about how residents have pulled together to help each other during the evacuation.
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residents → pin → evacuation
"It's been incredible," he said.
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he → say → ?
He acknowledged people's patience will "start to wear thin" as they are forced to stay away from their homes, but urged residents not to turn to infighting or blame.
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they → acknowledge → infighting
"We can't lose sight of who we are.
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we → lose → sight
We need to keep helping each other.
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We → need → other
And when we do get back, we need to brace ourselves for what's there or what's not there.
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what → get → ourselves
It's going to be hard.
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It → go → ?
It's going to be really hard," Holmes said, his voice breaking.
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voice → go → ?
"We all know people who have lost homes.…
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And those people need our help."
Updates
August 11
Tiffany GoodweinVolunteers in Penticton collect food donations for evacuees
I'm Tiffany Goodwein and I am a CBC reporter based in Penticton, B.C.
I'm at Bethel Church, the emergency food donation centre for wildfire relief.
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I → need → relief
Volunteers have been working through the weekend collecting donations and putting together food hampers for Summerland evacuees.
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Volunteers → work → evacuees
Community Connections pastor Holly Bates said there is an entire crew of people delivering food.
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Bates → say → food
Many of the hampers are going to evacuees still living in their cars and RVs throughout the city.
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Many → go → city
She said demand for food support is high and they are in need of more food donations to keep up.
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they → say → donations
Residents have no timeline for re-entry as fire continues to burn
Officials say re-entry plans are underway for thousands of evacuees in the Summerland area, but have not provided a timeline for when they might be able to return.
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they → have → timeline
Summerland chief administrative officer Graham Statt says the plan will be rolled out in phases after town officials are able to get back in and assess damages.
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Some structures have been lost, but officials have not said how many.
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In the meantime, some temporary re-entry has been granted for critical infrastructure, with staff working at Telus facilities and the water treatment facility that's still being threatened by a nearby landfill fire.
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that → grant → fire
Wildfire officials say they continue to increase staffing, with 100 firefighters arriving from Mexico to start Tuesday morning, while the Canadian military is on standby.
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military → say → standby
Amid the devastation, the mayors of Summerland and Penticton are applauding residents for helping each other during the evacuation process.
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mayors → applaud → process
RCMP continue to investigate the cause of the Bald Range fire, but are urging the public not to speculate.
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RCMP → continue → public
- Justin Li
No exact number on how many refused evacuation order
Statt said officials are aware that there are some people who've decided to stay home in contravention of the evacuation order.
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who → refuse → order
He said the RCMP have advised these individuals to not leave their homes.
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RCMP → say → homes
Statt said he does not have a number on how many there are, but said they've made themselves known to first responders.
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themselves → say → responders
Railway spared from damage
Statt said the historic Kettle Valley Steam Railway (KVR) is intact and the train has been moved to a safe location.
"I've had personal conversations with representatives from the KVR.
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I → spar → KVR
The trestle remains intact, the train itself … is fine," Statt said.
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The KVR, built in the early 20th century, is a popular tourist attraction.
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- Justin Li
Boil-water situation in flux
Officials say there is no clear timeline for when a boil-water advisory in Summerland will be lifted.
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advisory → say → Summerland
The notice was issued after a water treatment facility had to be evacuated due to encroaching fire.
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facility → issue → fire
Graham Statt, chief administrative officer for the District of Summerland, said the facility itself was not ultimately impacted, and some staff have returned "to get things going again, to start flushing systems" as part of re-entry planning, but noted testing from Interior Health would shape next steps.
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testing → say → steps
He said a landfill near the treatment facility is "literally on fire" and crews are currently fighting it.
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crews → say → it
- Kevin Maimann
Telus granted access to keep services working: Statt
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services → grant → access
Responding to a question about residents reporting problems with cell reception and internet service, Statt said the town has been granting temporary re-entry to the evacuation zone to keep critical infrastructure working.
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infrastructure → respond → zone
…and 20 more, not listed.
