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Bradley Creek wildfire appeal · Published 6 August 2026 · Updated 12 August 2026
Volunteers carrying water and emergency supplies beside smoke-hazed pine hills

Support after a destructive wildfire

Bradley Creek families need support through displacement and recovery.

The Bradley Creek wildfire swept through Okanagan Indian Band land near Vernon after extreme winds on 31 July. Crews continued containment and recovery work on 11 August, but utility restoration and serious return hazards remained and no full re-entry date had been set.

  • More than 30 structures confirmed lost, with the total expected to rise
  • More residents returned while some properties remained unsafe
  • 1,440 emergency-support registrations recorded from 1 to 4 August
  • The Bradley Creek water system remained under a Do Not Consume notice
Support the emergency campaign Follow the verified timeline

Crisis timeline

How the wildfire and response have developed

Verified events are kept in reverse chronological order. Older entries remain visible as relief and recovery continue.

For a fuller report, read our Bradley Creek wildfire news report.

  1. Containment and recovery work continue, but no full re-entry date is set

    The Okanagan Indian Band said wildfire crews were continuing to make progress toward full containment while utility restoration, danger-tree work and other hazard mitigation continued. Westside Road remained closed to non-emergency personnel at Irish Creek Road South and north of Wilsons Landing. Officials said no date had yet been identified for residents who remained evacuated to return safely.

    Source: Okanagan Indian Band

  2. Another evacuation area reopens under a water-quality advisory

    The Okanagan Indian Band partially rescinded another Bradley Creek evacuation order, allowing residents in the mapped return area to go home. A Water Quality Advisory remained in place for addresses on the OKIB water system within that rescinded area. Returning residents were warned about structural damage, fire-damaged trees, fallen power lines, debris, ash and soot, and the Band said some homes and properties had been significantly damaged or lost.

    Source: Okanagan Indian Band

  3. Some evacuation orders ease while unsafe-water notice remains

    The Okanagan Indian Band said one evacuation order was rescinded and another was downgraded to an evacuation alert from 19:30, allowing more residents to return home. Other evacuation orders remained because some properties still required damage and hazard assessments. The Bradley Creek water system remained under a Do Not Consume notice, and the First Nations Health Authority was carrying out priority water-quality testing. Returning residents were warned about fire-damaged trees, unstable structures, damaged infrastructure and debris.

    Source: Okanagan Indian Band

  4. Conditions improve, but re-entry remains limited

    The Okanagan Indian Band said conditions had improved and there was good control over the fire, but evacuation orders were still being reviewed area by area. Some residents had returned while other areas remained unsafe. Westside Road remained unsafe in places because of damaged infrastructure, danger trees and continuing assessments. A Do Not Consume order remained in force for all OKIB water systems, and property assessments and direct notifications to affected families were continuing.

    Source: Okanagan Indian Band

  5. Evacuation order is partly rescinded while water restrictions remain

    The Okanagan Indian Band rescinded the evacuation order for Desert Cove and specified areas from Antoine Road to Wilfred Road, allowing residents on independent water systems to return. An evacuation alert remained in place, and the Do Not Consume order continued for every address served by the OKIB water system.

    Source: Okanagan Indian Band

  6. Evacuation orders and fire-suppression work continue

    The Okanagan Indian Band said evacuation orders remained in effect and Westside Road remained closed. Crews continued mop-up work and guarded homes and other structures, while fire behaviour was reported at rank 1 to 2. Drone heat mapping was being used to locate remaining hotspots, and the Do Not Consume Water advisory remained active for affected systems.

    Source: Okanagan Indian Band

  7. Emergency support continues for evacuated households

    The Okanagan Indian Band said reception and registration support remained active. Support referrals were being extended to 12 August. City of Vernon figures shared in the update recorded 755 in-person registrations and 685 self-service registrations from 1 to 4 August. People who used both methods were counted only under self-service and excluded from the in-person total, so the published counts do not overlap. About 50 volunteers a day had helped connect evacuees with temporary shelter, clothing, food and other essentials.

    Sources: Okanagan Indian Band and City of Vernon

  8. Evacuation orders and unsafe-water warning remain in force

    The Okanagan Indian Band said evacuation orders remained in effect across OKIB IR1 while the fire was active and not fully contained. Hotspots remained near homes. A Do Not Consume Water advisory continued for the Six Mile, Bradley Creek, Irish Creek and Head of Lake water system and 59 Antoine Road, with officials warning that boiling would not make the water safe.

    Source: Okanagan Indian Band

  9. Controlled ignition planned to protect homes and infrastructure

    BC Wildfire Service notified the community that crews planned a low-intensity hand ignition near Bonneau Road. The operation was intended to remove about two hectares of fuel along the fire edge and help protect houses and infrastructure.

    Sources: Okanagan Indian Band and BC Wildfire Service

  10. Officials confirm more than 30 structures lost

    The Okanagan Indian Band confirmed that more than 30 structures had been lost and warned that the figure was expected to rise significantly. Some areas remained unsafe, so the full extent of the damage was not yet known.

    Source: Okanagan Indian Band

  11. Emergency reception centres begin helping evacuees

    Emergency support operations began registering evacuated households and arranging temporary accommodation, food, clothing and essential incidentals. Community and municipal volunteers expanded one-to-one assistance as demand increased.

    Sources: Okanagan Indian Band and City of Vernon

  12. Bradley Creek wildfire spreads under extreme winds

    The wildfire spread rapidly through dry terrain near Vernon and Okanagan Indian Band communities. Credible reporting described wind gusts reaching about 115 kilometres per hour and residents receiving very little time to evacuate.

    Sources: BC Wildfire Service and Credible reporting

Verified emergency facts

Severe housing loss and continuing displacement

These are dated snapshots checked again on 12 August. The published registration categories do not overlap. Damage assessments may change as authorities and the community continue their work.

More than 30

structures officially confirmed lost

Officials warned on 4 August that the total was expected to rise as assessments continued.

1,440

emergency-support registrations from 1 to 4 August

The published count combines 755 in-person and 685 self-service registrations without overlap.

685

self-service registrations in the same period

People who used both methods were counted here and excluded from the in-person total.

Why help matters now

Families face immediate needs and a difficult recovery

Evacuated households can need safe accommodation, food, clothing, transport, medicine and reliable information. Families whose homes were destroyed also face long-term emotional, financial and practical consequences.

The Canadian Red Cross Canadian Wildfire Fund and United Way BC Wildfire Recovery Fund remain active. Their work demonstrates a legitimate continuing public call for wildfire support in Canada and British Columbia.

This AidWorkers.com campaign is independent. Cited organisations are evidence sources and are not presented as partners or recipients of donations to AidWorkers.com.

The emergency is still evolving. This page will keep dated updates without removing earlier verified snapshots.
  • Temporary accommodation, food, clothing and essential household items
  • Health, prescription and culturally safe support for evacuees
  • Mental health and trauma-informed help through displacement and loss
  • Reliable public information as orders, access and services change
  • Responsible recovery support where it can be properly authorised

Donation transparency

What this campaign does and does not promise

Urgency should never come at the expense of honesty. This page separates verified wildfire facts from AidWorkers.com's own role.

Your donation can support

  • Monitoring and publishing verified wildfire information.
  • Practical crisis, preparedness and field-focused resources.
  • Due diligence, coordination and response-readiness work.
  • Authorised direct or partner support connected to the emergency where feasible and properly controlled.

What we will not imply

  • That AidWorkers.com is an Okanagan Indian Band, British Columbia or Canadian authority.
  • That a gift has reached Bradley Creek or a named organisation unless that transfer is confirmed.
  • That fast-changing damage, evacuation and support figures remain unchanged.

Check the evidence

Sources used for this appeal

Impact, response activity and evidence of active public fundraising were checked before publication. Fast-moving claims are dated and attributed in plain text.

  • Okanagan Indian BandContainment progress, continuing road restrictions, utility restoration, hazard mitigation and re-entry planning · 11 August 2026, 16:00 PDT
  • Okanagan Indian BandPartial evacuation-order rescind, water-quality advisory and return hazards · 10 August 2026, 17:30 PDT
  • Okanagan Indian BandEvacuation order rescind and downgrade, continuing property hazards and Bradley Creek Do Not Consume notice · 9 August 2026, 20:00 PDT
  • Okanagan Indian BandImproved fire conditions, re-entry limits, continuing access hazards and Do Not Consume order · 8 August 2026, 19:00 PDT
  • Okanagan Indian BandEvacuation order changes, road closure, unsafe-water advisory, fire conditions, suppression work and emergency support · checked 8 August 2026
  • City of VernonEmergency support registration and volunteer figures · checked 7 August 2026
  • BC Wildfire ServiceBradley Creek incident tracking and response context · checked 7 August 2026
  • 211 British ColumbiaCurrent wildfire support resources and public donation options · checked 6 August 2026
  • Canadian Red CrossActive Canadian Wildfire Fund · checked 6 August 2026
  • United Way British ColumbiaActive Wildfire Recovery Fund for immediate and long-term support · checked 6 August 2026
  • Credible reportingExtreme wind and rapid evacuation context · 4 August 2026
Is this an Okanagan Indian Band, Canadian Red Cross or United Way appeal?

No. This is an independent AidWorkers.com campaign. The organisations above are cited only as evidence sources and examples of active support or public fundraising. They are not presented as partners or recipients.

Will every donation be sent directly to Bradley Creek?

No such claim is made. The campaign supports AidWorkers.com's wildfire-related humanitarian purposes, including verified public information, practical resources, response readiness and authorised direct or partner support where feasible. Any confirmed transfer or delivery should be reported separately and transparently.

Why can the figures change?

Damage assessments, evacuation orders and service conditions continue to change. Figures on this page are dated so later updates can be added without erasing the historical record.

First published: . Last fact-checked: .