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

By The Canadian Press

Photo Gallery: Ashes pave road to recovery after B.C. wildfires

Sep 24, 2026 | 1:58 AM

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.

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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.

The Canadian Press

by The Canadian Press

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Photo Gallery: Ashes pave road to recovery after B.C. wildfires

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