Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) on Sunday (9 August) confirmed that an 80-year-old woman died in Summerland, British Columbia, after an explosive wildfire forced mass evacuations over the weekend.
In a media release, RCMP said, “An 80-year-old Meadow Valley resident was attempting to leave her home, along with one member of her family, due to the wildfires when she reportedly died suddenly,” and added, “Police believe her death to be a result of the wildfire.”
Bald Range wildfire forces mass evacuations: What we know
The development follows the outbreak of the Bald Range wildfire shortly after 5 p.m. PT on 7 August, about 15 kilometres from the city. The blaze spread quickly, prompting tactical evacuations, with firefighting helicopters involved in some of the operations.
The police further noted that the British Columbia Coroners Service was investigating the woman’s death, adding that there were no other known fatalities related to the fire so far.
As of 9 August, the Bald Range wildfire had grown to 136 square kilometres, with 12,000 residents and people in surrounding areas, including southern Peachland, remaining under evacuation orders. The remainder of Peachland, along with areas south of Summerland and west of Penticton, was placed under evacuation alerts, while the Penticton Indian Band also declared a state of emergency.
Meanwhile, smoke from the raging wildfire also led to several flight cancellations at the Kelowna airport.
Earlier on 8 August, British Columbia officials declared a state of emergency after a fast-moving wildfire doubled in size and prompted the evacuation of roughly 20,000 people overnight, with some being airlifted to safety, AFP reported.
This is a developing story. More details awaited.
