80-Year-Old Woman Dies While Evacuating as Bald Range Fire Intensifies in B.C.

An 80-year-old woman died while attempting to evacuate her home as the rapidly growing Bald Range wildfire threatened the Meadow Valley area northwest of Summerland, B.C., police said Sunday.

The RCMP said the death was reported Saturday. The woman was trying to leave her home with a family member when she suddenly died. Police believe her death was related to the wildfire, although the B.C. Coroners Service is investigating to determine the exact nature and cause of death.

The death comes as thousands of residents remain away from their homes amid an unprecedented wildfire emergency across the southern Interior.

Thousands remain evacuated

About 12,000 people from Summerland, along with thousands more from surrounding communities, remained under evacuation orders Sunday because of the Bald Range fire.

Evacuation alerts extend south toward Penticton and north through Peachland to Highway 97C. The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen expanded the evacuation order Sunday morning to include properties in the Brent Lake and Shingle Creek areas south of Summerland.

Most evacuees have travelled to Penticton, where officials are encouraging people to stay with family or friends whenever possible because accommodation options are limited.

Interior Health is also extending hours at urgent and primary care centres in Penticton and West Kelowna to provide non-emergency medical care to evacuees.

Premier David Eby said homes have been destroyed by the fire, although officials have not yet released a confirmed number.

Fire reaches extreme intensity

The B.C. Wildfire Service said Sunday morning that the Bald Range fire was exhibiting Rank 5 and Rank 6 fire behaviour, with Rank 6 representing the highest level.

Crews reported extremely rapid rates of spread, while burning embers were being carried as far as one kilometre ahead of the main fire, igniting new spot fires.

At that intensity, officials said direct attacks by ground crews are unsafe.

The fire was first reported Friday evening and grew so quickly that helicopters were used to rescue dozens of people who had become trapped or cut off by the flames. By Saturday night, the wildfire had burned approximately 103 square kilometres.

The wildfire service said its priorities include establishing control lines, protecting structures and continuing search-and-rescue operations.

The provincial government declared a state of emergency Saturday as the wildfire situation deteriorated across B.C.

Cliff Chapman, the BCWS director of wildfire operations, said prolonged hot and dry conditions have created explosive fire behaviour unlike anything the province has previously experienced. Forecast thunderstorms could further complicate conditions by producing dry lightning capable of starting additional fires.

Wildfires threaten communities across B.C.

The Bald Range fire is one of more than 100 wildfires burning across British Columbia, with nearly half classified as out of control.

Elsewhere in the province, the Lower Similkameen Indian Band issued evacuation alerts Sunday evening for properties near Highway 3 west of Osoyoos because of the Sinlahekin wildfire in Washington state, which has grown to more than 572 square kilometres.

The Okanagan Indian Band, meanwhile, rescinded an evacuation alert and downgraded portions of an evacuation order related to the Bradley Creek wildfire. That fire is believed to have destroyed at least 230 properties on Okanagan Indian Band land and was classified as being held Saturday, meaning significant growth was not expected under existing conditions.

The 517-square-kilometre Ainslie Creek wildfire east of Boston Bar also continues to expand. The fire has moved to within nine kilometres of Highway 8, prompting a new evacuation order from the Nooaitch Indian Band. To the east, the wildfire is now within 12 kilometres of Highway 5.

Smoke from the widespread fires has also prompted air-quality warnings across southern B.C., stretching from the Fraser Canyon to the Alberta border.

As firefighters battle rapidly changing conditions, officials continue to urge residents in threatened areas to follow evacuation orders and be prepared to leave quickly if conditions worsen.