Bald Range Growth, Maple Ridge Bear Attack & RCMP Probe — Vancouver Monday

24 articles 2 weeks ago 140

🚑 Breaking & Incidents

Bald Range wildfire now mapped at 15,590 hectares. BC Wildfire Service reported the fire grew about one to 1.5 kilometres overnight and crews expect similar growth on Monday with possible intermittent candling and 40–50 km/h winds forecast. Helicopters led aerial efforts Sunday while air tankers completed only a couple of retardant lines before visibility worsened.
Three-year-old attacked by bear in Maple Ridge airlifted to BC Children’s Hospital. Conservation officers continue searching near the 12300 block of 240 Street after the child, Anaiyah Lekei, was clawed and bitten on the head, neck and back and later underwent surgery; RCMP previously shot a different black bear in a neighbour’s yard after the attack.

RCMP investigating cause of Bald Range wildfire, seeking dashcam and witness footage from Aug. 7. Penticton South Okanagan Similkameen RCMP said investigators want video and information from Princeton-Summerland Road and Bathville Road areas and cautioned against spreading misinformation after identifying a non-suspect in a distant video. The evacuation order for the District of Summerland remains in effect.
Live media briefing set for Monday at 6 p.m. PT on Summerland Bald Range wildfire. Speakers will include BC Wildfire Service, RCMP, Regional Emergency Operations Centre and elected officials from Summerland, Penticton Indian Band, RDO-S and Penticton; the fire is now mapped at more than 15,500 hectares.
More than 21,000 people evacuated and B.C. declared a provincial state of emergency. Reporting shows the Bald Ridge fire began ~15 km northwest of Summerland and grew to 50 sq km within three hours, with the blaze now at roughly 156 sq km and widespread orange/yellow air quality warnings.

Summerland farmers granted passes to return to evacuated zones to tend livestock. Minister Lana Popham said the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen set a pass system prioritizing livestock relocation and access for harvesting; growers asked to enter evacuated areas to harvest fruit. Laughing Coyote Orchards owner Neal Vander Helm reported about 10,000 trees and pots at risk on his nursery property.
Stars Piggly Wigglys Sanctuary evacuated after Bald Range fire; seven rescues moved out. Owner Faith Affleck is staying in Okanagan Falls while her fiancé remained to protect the farm and reported no structures burned on their property in 24 hours; they reported severe sleep loss and ongoing stress since the fire expansion.

Faulder and Summerland residents slowly learn of losses as photos show homes destroyed. RCMP confirmed an 80-year-old woman died fleeing flames in Meadow Valley and community members report entire Faulder neighbourhoods reduced to smouldering ruins after the fast-moving blaze forced mass evacuations.
Seniors evacuated from Summerland located after daughter tracked an Apple AirTag to Penticton Convention Centre. Helen Gonzalez said the AirTag pinged and community members at the convention centre cared for her parents, including finding food and a bed for them while they awaited family contact.

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