Officials in British Columbia’s Okanagan region say a wildfire that devastated the area destroyed or damaged about 150 structures. Graham Statt, chief administrative officer for the District of Summerland, says the count includes about 40 structures in his community. The others were in nearby areas of the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen including Faulder, where videos show homes reduced to blackened foundations. The damage assessment comes as provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry is set to hold a news conference, as much of the southern half of B.C. remains blanketed in wildfire smoke. The news conference today is also to include Emergency Management Minister Kelly Greene and Forests Minister Ravi Parmar. More than 120 wildfires are burning across B.C., including blazes that have destroyed hundreds of homes and forced thousands to flee. Orange and yellow air quality warnings cover a large swath of the province, as major fires burn near Boston Bar and in the Cariboo and Okanagan regions. Agriculture Minister Lana Popham says British Columbians should support businesses affected by the fires. She says this is the most important time of the year for businesses that have instead faced evacuations, road closures, smoke and other disruptions to operations. “As families, workers and small businesses in Summerland and across the Okanagan continue to respond to and recover from wildfires and evacuations, British Columbians have a simple way to show their support for affected farmers: look for local and to buy B.C.,” Popham said in a statement Monday. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 18, 2026.
