Officials in British Columbia's Okanagan region say a wildfire that roared down on the community of Summerland this month destroyed or damaged about 150 structures.
Graham Statt, chief administrative officer for the District of Summerland, says the count includes about 40 structures in his community.
More than 100 others were damaged or lost in the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen, including in Faulder, where numerous homes have been reduced to blackened foundations.
Statt told a district livestream late Monday that 150 is a preliminary number and damage assessments typically increase over time.
He says authorities are in the process of contacting residents whose homes are affected, and on-site counselling will be available for some, while others will be shown photographs if they don't want to immediately visit.
The first official damage assessment for the Bald Range fire, west of Okanagan Lake, comes as provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry is set to hold a news conference on wildfire and smoke conditions.
The news conference today is also to include Emergency Management Minister Kelly Greene and Forests Minister Ravi Parmar.
Orange and yellow air quality warnings cover a large swath of the province, as major fires burn near Boston Bar and in the Cariboo and Okanagan regions.
Agriculture Minister Lana Popham says British Columbians should support businesses affected by the fires, with more than 120 burning across B.C.
She says this is the most important time of the year for businesses that have instead faced evacuations, road closures, smoke and other disruptions to operations.
"As families, workers and small businesses in Summerland and across the Okanagan continue to respond to and recover from wildfires and evacuations, British Columbians have a simple way to show their support for affected farmers: look for local and to buy B.C.," Popham said in a statement Monday.
The destruction in and around Summerland adds to more than 230 homes that were damaged or lost further north around Okanagan Lake due to the Bradley Creek fire that has been held.
Picture Courtesy: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
