BURSTThe Mayor of Summerland, its MLA, and the B.C. Minister of Forests are encouraging people to visit the Okanagan to help give local businesses a boost in the wake of a devastating wildfire, and to avoid spending that money on trips across the border.
Minister of Forests Ravi Parmar, Penticton-Summerland MLA Amelia Boultbee, and Mayor Doug Holmes spoke with reporters outside Summerland’s town hall on Aug. 27 following a tour of the community.
“My ask of all of you is, this is a beautiful part of the world, and as we look towards the long weekends ahead, it is safe to come back, book hotel visits, and support local businesses here,” said Parmar.
“The summer’s not over, and Summerland and Penticton are open for business, so please come out and support your local farmers, support your local restaurants and hotels,” added Boultbee. “This is a tourism-based industry and it actually happens to be beautiful and safe here, so we hope that you will come and visit our region. Do your part, be fire smart, be resilient, and help spend a lot of your money supporting these incredible businesses.”
The Bald Range Wildfire erupted on Aug. 7 with furious speed, and although the immediate danger to structures has passed, it continues to burn to the west of the community after destroying homes and upending the lives of thousands of residents of not just Summerland, but surrounding rural communities like Faulder.
The fire led to the cancellation or postponement of multiple events, while others like the annual Penticton Peach Festival pivoted to offering immediate fundraisers for their neighbours forced out by the wildfire.
The province has lifted its state of emergency, issued shortly after the Bald Range Fire exploded in size, and it is also lifting its off-road vehicle ban, although Parmar emphasized that the fire season was not over yet and they could be brought back at a moment’s notice.
“We know that our fire seasons are more intense and they are longer, but we don’t need these tools at this time,” said Parmar. “If we need these tools in the future, we will use them and we certainly won’t stop, but I think it’s also equally important for me to say to a community that I know is struggling because of the impact of this that they need your help right now.
Even as residents have returned to Summerland, the ongoing impacts of the wildfire are continuing to be felt, as Summerland remains under a boil water advisory that local restaurants have expressed concerns with. Interior Health has not yet given the all-clear through testing to lift the advisory.
Holmes said that they are hoping to begin the seven-day rolling period of clear test results soon.
“We know we have concerns about our watershed and the impact it’ll have on our drinking water in long term; recovery isn’t something that just happens overnight,” said Holmes. It’s a long term thing and we’re in this for the long haul, but it’s great that we have this provincial support.”