Rapid wildfire growth prompts evacuation orders near Summerland, B.C.

A wildfire sparked and rapidly grew near Summerland, B.C., on Friday evening, prompting immediate evacuation orders as flames and smoke billowed into the air. (Credit: Castanet and Aliah Heck)

A newly discovered wildfire’s aggressive, sudden growth has prompted evacuations near Summerland, B.C.

The blaze, referred to as K51490 by the B.C. Wildfire Service, was discovered on Friday and quickly grew to 1,000 hectares, or 10 square kilometres.

EmergencyInfoBC is calling it the Bald Range wildfire and has issued immediate evacuation orders for:

• Faulder; from the western Summerland boundary, west to approximately kilometre 15 of the Princeton-Summerland Road, north past Darke Lake, south to Bathville Road.

Emergency Support Services have been established at the Summerland Arena, located at 8820 Jubilee Road E.

Wildfire officials say 20 firefighters, along with helicopters and structure protection crews, are working against the blaze.

“The fire is displaying aggressive rank 5 fire behaviour, meaning an organized flame front with a fast rate of spread and moderate to long range spotting. Rapid growth is expected due to gusty westerly winds,” reads an update from the B.C. Wildfire Service.