Bald Range Wildfire - Re-Entry & Recovery

We know how difficult it is to be away from your home, and returning you safely is our top priority. Re-entry for the Bald Range Wildfire is being coordinated through the Regional Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), working with the District of Summerland, BC Wildfire Service, utility providers, health authorities and other partner agencies.

Re-entry will happen in phases, area by area, and only once BC Wildfire Service and the EOC confirm it is safe. A phased approach lets crews restore essential services and clear hazards in each area before residents return, rather than reopening the whole community at once.

Geotech Assessments

• Cartwright Preliminary Slope Hazard Assessment Memo (PDF)
• Hunters Hill Preliminary Slope Hazard Assessment Memo (PDF)
• Callan And Bridgeman Slope Preliminary Hazard Assessment Memo (PDF)
• Deer Ridge and Prairie Valley Slope Preliminary Hazard Assessment Memo (PDF)
• Garnet Valley North Preliminary Hazard Assessment Memo (PDF)
• Garnet Valley South Preliminary Hazard Assessment Memo (PDF)

Re-Entry Considerations for Public Safety & Services

The process of safely reopening an evacuated neighbourhood after a wildfire involves much more than simply putting out the flames. Before residents can safely return home, the Emergency Operations Centre works directly with BC Wildfire, the District of Summerland and partner agencies to mitigate and reduce immediate risks and hazards through a variety of safety checks. This section broadly explains that work so you know what stands between being evacuated from your neighbourhood and receiving the “all clear” to return home.  

Fire and Environmental Safety

Response crews must first:

• extinguish fires in the immediate area
• identify and deal with any hidden underground hot spots
• identify and mitigate any immediate hazards such as fire-weakened hazard trees and unstable slopes
• complete rapid damage assessments on any properties that have been impacted directly from the fire event, with either partial or total structure loss

Critical Utilities

Utility teams must first:

• repair downed power lines and restore electricity to the area
• identify time periods of power outages, which may be different for various streets in each evacuated area
• assess and restore water, sewer and gas systems to ensure they can be brought back online
• issue or communicate boil water notices
• identify an immediate location for temporary garbage disposal due to the ongoing fire suppression at the Summerland landfill
• reestablish curbside collection to assist residents with disposal after being away from their properties for extended periods of time

Roadways and Access

Crews must first:

• identify and inspect damaged roads, bridges, culverts
• remove any debris, trees, power lines, equipment and abandoned vehicles from roadways to ensure emergency vehicles have unhindered access
• establish safe access and egress points into each re-entry area to enable orderly evacuation should the fire situation change
• establish new security checkpoints to enable residents to access approved areas
• ensure the new checkpoints are adequately staffed by the RCMP/security and have the information as to who is now permitted to re-enter the area
• install signage to identify new traffic patterns and speed changes
• barricade any unsafe roads, lanes, trails, and bridges
• work with BC Transit to re-establish public transit to the area

Information to Affected Residents

Communications must first be established to:

• provide timely updates on the initial emergency evacuation as well as the general process for the future re-entry and recovery of the affected area
• inform affected residents of partial or total structure loss and if safe, enable a controlled tour of the affected area to directly-impacted residents
• create tailored re-entry information packages with specific information to each approved area identifying such things as: power loss timelines, temporary curbside collection schedules, air quality information, mental health supports, assistance for livestock/crops, temporary transit schedules

Essential Services

Partner agencies and businesses must be contacted to:

• Verify on-scene availability of RCMP, fire protection, and ambulance services
• Coordinate with Interior Health (IHA) regarding the status of major care facilities
• Enable early accesses for businesses where possible to confirm local commercial readiness for groceries, fuel, and pharmacy services.
• Mobilize mental health support teams, including Emergency Support Services

Recovery and clean-up resources

As the evacuation orders are being downgraded to alerts and areas are opened up for re-entry, the initial emergency response effort will shift to a recovery effort.  Further supports will be identified in the days to come, to help residents and business rebuild.