Newly married couple Kiara and Sasha Sopow are among the roughly 20,000 people under an evacuation order as the Bald Range wildfire burns across the South Okanagan. CTV News met the couple Sunday, at the Emergency Operations Centre in Penticton, where they’re grappling with the loss of the family ranch in Faulder, a small rural community near Summerland. “It was our foundation. We were going to have our family there forever,” said Kiara. On Friday, they had just minutes to evacuate as flames tore through the community. “My mother-in-law suffered from pretty severe burns on her arms and forearms,” said Kiara. “It happened so quick. It was just an inferno of fire.” The ranch was home to dozens of horses and cattle. “We got four horses out, and the rest—we had to open the gates and hope that they survived.” Kiara says she has since been notified that the family’s property was destroyed. “We lost our dogs. We couldn’t get them out in time. There’s just nothing left.” But amid the heartbreak, there was a glimmer of hope. Miraculously, the remaining horses and cattle survived the blaze. “It’s definitely a sigh of relief. We went out there and saw them all in a group, standing there waiting for us,” said Sasha. The couple says they were later given special permission to briefly enter the evacuation zone to check on their animals. That’s when they got a firsthand look at the devastation left behind, including destroyed bridges and damaged infrastructure. “We were driving over power lines and underneath power lines with my truck and swerving around flaming trees and s**t to get out. There was pretty wild wind,” said Sasha. “It’s just like there’s nothing left to Faulder at all.” Now, the couple is focused on getting the rest of their animals to safety. “We gave them all horse cookies and they’re all, like, in good spirits. They all came running to us like they’re happy to see people. We have a little donkey. And he was doing good too,” said Kiara. “We’re in contact with the B.C. government and stuff, trying to get permitting in place,” said Sasha. “Just so we’re allowed to go out there with our trailers to get the cows.” Summerland Mayor Doug Holmes says he’s advocating to the province to prioritize letting people with animals into the evacuation zones for rescue purposes. “Those are the first people that we need to be able to get in there, but they’ll be escorted in and out because it’s still a fire zone,” said Holmes. Kiara and Sasha are now hoping to secure the permits needed to bring their remaining horses and cattle to safety. Widespread destruction, possible fatality The destruction west of town by the Bald Range wildfire is widespread. Video from the Faulder area shows burned-out vehicles, blackened forests and homes reduced to empty foundations. Officials have confirmed there has been significant structure loss, but said they cannot yet provide specific information. Police are also investigating reports that someone may not have survived the evacuation. “I’ve heard one life has been lost trying to escape the fire,” Summerland Mayor Doug Holmes said. “But I believe the RCMP are still investigating that, and they would need to confirm.” The RCMP have confirmed they are looking into a potential death. Regional officials are also pushing back against misinformation circulating online that much of the town has been destroyed. “There is no damage to the main downtown core of Summerland,” said Erick Thompson with the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen. Officials acknowledged some evacuees have faced long waits for emergency support services as an estimated 10,000 people have taken refuge in neighbouring Penticton. “Remember, a lot of the volunteers who are helping with emergency support services, who are fighting the fire, who are working in the emergency operations centre, are all also impacted,” Thompson said. “Many of them, like myself, are out of our homes right now.” ‘You’re just helpless’ For third-generation farmer Ted Vollo, who also owns Summerland Heritage Cider Company, the evacuation has put this year’s apple harvest at risk. “We’re probably looking at losing some fruit there that’s just not going to get harvested,” he said. If the evacuation stretches past five or six days, Vollo said without irrigation, there could be further damage done. Vollo is staying with friends in Penticton along with his young son and golden retriever. His wife was away at the time of the evacuation. He acknowledges the uncertainty has been difficult. “You’re just helpless. Everyone’s really bored and just doesn’t know what to do with themselves,” he said. In total, approximately 20,000 people including the entire district of Summerland, as well as parts of Peachland, remain on evacuation order. The fire has grown to 13,618 hectares in size. Although conditions around Penticton appeared calmer Sunday, with thick smoke hiding what’s going on in the fire zone beneath an orange-tinted sun, fire officials warned the danger is far from over. The BC Wildfire Service said shifting winds could increase fire activity Sunday night by pushing embers and flames into unburned forest.
