BC Fires: How You Can Help
- kc dyer
- 1 hour ago
- 2 min read
Donations of cash, food and even pastureland needed
British Columbia remains under a state of emergency with 101 fires burning across the province, according to BC Wildfire Service, and 46 of them out of control.
The explosive growth of the Bald Range fire near Summerland in the Kamloops Fire Centre and the Pear Lake fire in the Cariboo continue to be classed as Wildfires of Note. The destruction of homes and displacement of residents in these areas means a number of the organizations supporting the rescue efforts are in need of support.
Here are some of the ways you can help.
The North Okanagan Community Foundation has established a fund to help those who have been displaced from their homes. The Wildfire Response 2026 Fund is intended as a trusted, local place to support evacuees and families across the region, including Okanagan Indian Band community members, Funds are being directed toward meeting the basic immediate needs of displaced people, as well as support for rebuilding over the long term.
Summerland Aid is a community-driven resource to connect evacuees with people who can help them meet their specific, practical needs. These include items as wide-ranging as pastureland needed for farm animals to a walking cane for an evacuee. The site allows users to identify the specific needs and contact the posters directly, without having to make an account.
The Central Okanagan Food Bank is offering food support for those in need at their West Kelowna and Kelowna locations, as well as at Emergency Support Services centres set up at the West Bank Lions Club and the Royal LePage Arena. They are accepting donations of food and cash.
Volunteers and staff with the Okanagan Humane Society have been helping evacuees find safe places for their pets and livestock. Over the weekend they rescued 17 cats and kittens from a trailer park and helped care for other displaced animals. They are accepting donations HERE.
The RCMP continue to investigate the cause of the Bald Range fire near Summerland, which broke out on Friday and has grown to more than 156 square kilometres. An area Evacuation Order remains in place until further notice.
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The figures denoting the size of the burned area can be difficult to comprehend when expressed in hectares, square kilometres, etc.
A report on the CBC yesterday put it into perspective when it was stated that the Bald Range wildfire had burned an area approximately equal to the size of the City of Vancouver.