The Bald Range Wildfire was first spotted just before 5 p.m. on August 7, west of Summerland near the Kettle Valley Rail Trail and Trout Creek. In just over four hours it had spread to 5,000 hectares and evacuation orders were issued. People were forced to flee from their homes immediately, and some residents required a helicopter rescue to reach safety.
Devastating wildfires are now an annual summer reality in many parts of the province, but the speed with which this fire spread was alarming and required BC Transit and our partners to react swiftly and decisively to rescue some of the most vulnerable people in the region.
Under British Columbia’s emergency management framework, BC Transit supports the transportation needs of emergency response and recovery efforts by working collaboratively with local authorities, Indigenous Nations, provincial agencies and other partners to provide resources where possible.
The first call for support came from the District of Summerland at about 5:30 p.m., with local operating partner Penticton Transit Services quickly sending a bus and driver to evacuate a group of residents. At around 8:30 p.m. Interior Health contacted Kent van Munster, BC Transit’s Manager Security and Emergency Management, to request more expansive assistance, and Kent and his team took the lead on all emergency responses at that point.
“This was a dynamic situation with multiple evacuations occurring simultaneously. With three separate facilities located on the same property, effective communication was critical to the success of the operation,” said Kent van Munster. “Coordinating buses to move residents safely and efficiently presented challenges; however, our established processes and strong communication channels with Interior Health and our operating partners helped ensure a coordinated response.”
Interior Health requested support with the immediate evacuation of 160 people including seven in wheelchairs from the Summerland Seniors Village, and an additional 32 people in wheelchairs from the Dr. Andrew Pavillion on the same property. Penticton Transit Services (five buses and Operators) and Transdev in Kelowna (seven buses and Operators) had already started mobilizing resources and began transporting people from these Summerland facilities to safe locations in Penticton and Kelowna.
Every second counts in emergency response, especially when people with accessibility and health challenges are involved. It’s not just about moving people but also considering all their individual needs like mobility aids, medical equipment and medications.
Just after midnight, adjustments to the evacuation strategy were needed. Highway 97 was shut down, and the Kelowna buses were required to return via Princeton and Merritt on Highway 97C, which added four hours to an already stressful journey.
Evacuations continued overnight, with Penticton Transit Services still transporting residents from the Summerland Arena to the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre well after 4 a.m. It was after 9 a.m. on August 8 that Kent reported that everyone had made it out safely, including area residents and transit employees.
“Penticton Transit Services and Transdev were available throughout the event, providing invaluable support and playing a key role in the safe evacuation of all residents. I would also like to extend my sincere thanks to the Transit Operators who went above and beyond to ensure the safety and well-being of those affected.”
In the end, BC Transit and our operating partners supported Interior Health by providing safe transportation out of the wildfire zone for approximately 210 people, including roughly 40 people in wheelchairs. As of August 12, the Bald Range Wildfire has spread to more than 18,000 hectares with an ongoing out of control status from BC Wildfire Service. Once the emergency has passed, BC Transit, Penticton Transit Services and Transdev will no doubt play a role in returning residents to the area where possible. For many, a return to the area will be heartbreaking.
Work of this nature takes a tremendous toll on the people transporting residents, most of whom also live in the region and were balancing the needs of their passengers with concerns for people in their own lives. BC Transit is grateful to our employees who supported this effort, and to our partners, who proved once again that they care about their communities, willingly driving towards disaster, while others are desperate to leave it.
BC Transit and its operating partners have supported similar emergency evacuations in recent years, including during the 2023 West Kelowna wildfire. As part of that response, BC Transit and Transdev helped evacuate residents from seven long-term care homes, including Brookhaven Care Centre. That effort was later highlighted in a Transit Operator and Worker Appreciation Day video.
While this story highlights a successful evacuation effort, we recognize that many people across British Columbia continue to be affected by wildfires and the uncertainty they bring. BC Transit extends its sincere condolences to everyone who has experienced loss, displacement or disruption because of these events. Our thoughts remain with the individuals, families and communities navigating the ongoing impacts of wildfire activity throughout the province, and the first responders fighting on our behalf.
More information on all current wildfire activity in the province is available here, and all current evacuation orders are available at EmergencyInfoBC.
