B.C. Wildfire Service crews work on the west flank of the Bald Range wildfire, west of Faulder, B.C., in this Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026 handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout — B.C. Wildfire Service (Mandatory Credit)

By The Canadian Press

Major B.C. fires including Summerland blaze are downgraded, with fall weather on way

Sep 3, 2026 | 11:38 AM

Major British Columbia wildfires have been downgraded as the wildfire service says fall weather is on the way, though there are still 150 active blazes across the province and drought remains a concern in the southern Interior.

The Bald Range blaze in the south Okanagan region was listed as under control on Monday, under a month after it forced some 20,000 people to flee, destroying about 150 homes as it raced toward Summerland on the shores of Okanagan Lake.

The Ainslie Creek blaze that forced evacuations that lasted weeks in the Fraser Canyon has meanwhile been declared held, meaning it’s not expected to spread beyond its existing perimeter under current conditions.

The blaze spanning nearly 690 square kilometres on the east side of the Fraser River has also been removed as British Columbia’s last wildfire of note.

The Regional District of East Kootenay said Thursday that all fires in the region were now classified as being held or under control, calling it “great news” that there were no out-of-control blazes in the entire fire centre.

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The regional district said in a statement that the BC Wildfire Service had also reduced an area restriction around the Matthew Creek wildfire due to a “recent downturn in weather” that had aided the work of fire crews.

The reclassifications come as some campfire prohibitions were lifted heading into the Labour Day long weekend, though the B.C. government issued a statement saying people should still be cautious and check local restrictions.

Small campfires are permitted in the northwest, southeast, Prince George and Coastal fire centres, but they remained prohibited in the Cariboo and Kamloops fire centres.

Just under 10 per cent of B.C.’s active blazes were burning out of control on Thursday, compared to about 45 per cent last week.

One of them is the massive Pear Lake fire in the Cariboo region, another previous wildfire of note.

The BC Wildfire Service said crews were still working to secure the perimeter of the 1,600-square-kilometre blaze.

Major B.C. fires including Summerland blaze are downgraded, with fall weather on way

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