village in ruins, as grim accounts emerge in wildfire’s wakeBy Canadian Press on August 9, 2026. The Bald Range wildfire, that has forced 20,000 people out of their homes in the south Okanagan region, burns in Summerland, B.C., late Saturday. The blaze that ignited on Friday exploded in size to more than 100 square kilometres by Saturday afternoon, while the BC Wildfire Service said it had grown to 136 square kilometres on Sunday. The BC Wildfire Service has said the fire started Friday afternoon, but Krauter said he saw smoke earlier in the day from his home that overlooks the valley. The wildfire service said Sunday that it was expecting “high potential” for blazes caused by lightning strikes, particularly in the central Interior and Okanagan regions.