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The Bald Range wildfire burning near Summerland (Image Credit: B.C. Wildfire Service)
By Liam Verster
Wildfire Risks

Provincial State of Emergency extended for another week  

Aug 21, 2026 | 3:31 PM

The B.C. Government has extended the State of Emergency.

On August 8, the province declared the state of emergency in response to the Bald Range wildfire, displacing over 20,000 people from community of Summerland.

While thousands of people had since returned to their homes, the province said the wildfire risks remained elevated and the State of Emergency would remain in effect until August 29.

The designation gives the province special powers under the Emergency and Disaster Act to respond to emergencies, such as by issuing temporary travel bans or securing accommodation for evacuees.

“To date, government has not needed to issue emergency orders under the state of emergency to respond to the current wildfire situation,” a provincial media release stated.

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“However, maintaining the state of emergency ensures the tools needed to respond quickly remain available as wildfire conditions continue to evolve.”

In addition to extending the State of Emergency, the province urged people to be prepared for an emergency or disaster event. That included having household emergency plans in place, having emergency kits and grab-and-go bags packed and readily available, pre-registering with Emergency Support Services, and staying informed by checking with local governments, First Nations and EmergencyInfoBC.

People ordered to evacuate due to a wildfire or other disaster were also urged to follow all directions and instructions from local officials.

by Liam Verster
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