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An aerial firefighting crew drops water from a helicopter on the Bald Range wildfire near Summerland, B.C., in this Monday, Aug. 10, 2026, handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout — B.C. Wildfire Service (Mandatory Credit)
By The Canadian Press

Wildfire crews hope for cloud cover after smoke thins in B.C.’s south Okanagan

Aug 12, 2026 | 2:00 AM

PENTICTON — The heavy blanket of smoke that has covered much of British Columbia’s Okanagan region for the past few days has thinned, revealing blue skies in Penticton, B.C., where many evacuees have gathered after fleeing an explosive wildfire last Friday.

The Bald Range wildfire, which has forced some 20,000 people out of their homes in Summerland, B.C., and surrounding areas, has grown by about six square kilometres since Tuesday to span an estimated 184 square kilometres.

Cliff Chapman with the BC Wildfire Service had said the smoke settling in valley bottoms was helping to suppress flames, depriving fires of oxygen.

But an update from the service says cloud cover this week could “replace the loss of smoke,” helping to put a damper on the fire.

Still, an orange-level air quality warning from Environment Canada covers the Okanagan, from Osoyoos to north of Vernon, as well as the Fraser Canyon and parts of the Kootenay region.

The wildfire service says firefighters, helicopters and structure protection crews continue to tackle the Bald Range fire, building a guard and “backup” control lines along its southern flank, southwest of Summerland.

The fire is one of about 100 active blazes across B.C., with about half burning out of control.

Official details of the losses inflicted by the Bald Range fire have been scant, but videos circulating online show homes reduced to blackened foundations in the community of Faulder, home to about 215 residents, west of Summerland.

Wildfires have also destroyed homes around Clinton, B.C., in the south Cariboo region, as well as on Okanagan Indian Band lands in the north Okanagan.

Telecommunications giant Telus says it is devoting $2 million to communities affected by the fires, aimed at providing network connectivity, data top-ups and bill credits for customers.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 12, 2026.

The Canadian Press

by The Canadian Press