Mike Ramsey, 80, walks past the remains of his classic Volkswagen Beetle at his home that was destroyed by the Bradley Creek wildfire on Okanagan Indian Band land, in Vernon, B.C., on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Photo Gallery: Ashes pave road to recovery after B.C. wildfires
The wildfire season in B.C. has burned far less area than usual, just 1,350 square kilometres, only about a quarter of the 20-year average.
But it has been one of the most devastating seasons on record for property destruction, with more than 500 homes or other structures destroyed or damaged.
Now that wildfire activity has died down as summer weather gives way to fall, residents are faced with the prospect of rebuilding and recovering from the devastation of losing the roof over their heads.
About 150 structures were lost to the Bald Range fire, including 110 in Faulder and Meadow Valley, and 40 in the nearby Okanagan lakeside community of Summerland.
On the northern shores of Okanagan Lake, the Bradley Complex of fires near Vernon brought ruin right to the waterline, some residents watching from boats as their homes burned in early August. Some 230 homes on the lands of the Okanagan Indian Band were lost.
A Buddha statue sits in front of homes that were destroyed by the Bradley Creek wildfire on Okanagan Indian Band land, in Vernon, B.C., on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
About 240 kilometres to the northwest, the Big Bar Complex of fires destroyed structures on around 120 properties outside Clinton, B.C., while the Brunswick Complex of fires outside Boston Bar in the Fraser Canyon, 200 kilometres northeast of Vancouver, damaged seven structures, four of them homes or cabins.
Here are some scenes from the communities impacted by the wildfires as the recovery efforts continue.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 24, 2026.
Lakefront homes that were destroyed by the Bradley Creek wildfire are seen in an aerial view on Okanagan Indian Band land, in Vernon, B.C., on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl DyckKathy Naseth and her husband Stephen Naseth sit outside the travel trailer they’re living in on their property where their home was destroyed by the Pear Lake wildfire, south of Clinton, B.C., on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl DyckTrees and a mountainside burned by the Pear Lake wildfire are seen near a travel trailer that Kathy Naseth and her husband Stephen Naseth are living in on their property where their home was destroyed by the wildfire, south of Clinton, B.C., on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl DyckA mountainside burned by the Pear Lake wildfire is seen in an aerial view above Hwy 97 and Six Mile Lake, south of Clinton, B.C., on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl DyckTrees consumed by the Pear Lake wildfire are seen in an aerial view on a mountainside, south of Clinton, B.C., on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl DyckA house and truck destroyed by the Pear Lake wildfire are seen in an aerial view, south of Clinton, B.C., on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl DyckTrees consumed by the Pear Lake wildfire are seen in an aerial view, in Chasm, B.C., on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl DyckJoel Patan walks through the basement of his home that was destroyed by the Bald Range wildfire near Faulder, west of Summerland, B.C., on Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl DyckBrian Callow, founder and co-owner of What The Fungus mushroom farm, stands among the remains of the farm that was destroyed by the Bald Range wildfire, in Summerland, B.C., on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl DyckThe head of a porcelain doll that belonged to Joel Patan’s daughter sits in the wreckage of his home that was destroyed by the Bald Range wildfire near Faulder, west of Summerland, B.C., on Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
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