Tuesday, August 11, 2026
ADVT 
National

'Devastation': Chief says about 230 homes destroyed by B.C. wildfire

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 04 Aug, 2026 10:48 AM
  • 'Devastation': Chief says about 230 homes destroyed by B.C. wildfire

The chief of the Okanagan Indian Band says about 230 homes have been destroyed by a raging wildfire near Vernon, B.C.

Dan Wilson says 30 band homes and 200 non-band homes have been destroyed by the Bradley Creek fire.

He says the area "looked like a war zone" when he took a helicopter tour of the devastation and it was difficult to recognize the community.

Wilson says the wildfire has been one of the most devastating events in the band's history. 

The chief says the situation is "surreal" and the destruction is just sinking in.

The fire started late Friday and was fanned by winds gusting up to 115 kilometres per hour, giving some residents as little as five minutes to get out of their homes. 

Picture Courtesy: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

MORE National ARTICLES

Canada's top doctor set to give an update on both Ebola and hantavirus today

Canada's top doctor set to give an update on both Ebola and hantavirus today
Canada’s top doctor is set to give an update today on two virus outbreaks abroad that have officials on alert at home.

Canada's top doctor set to give an update on both Ebola and hantavirus today

Carney says 'Canada is working', as Alberta readies for referendum

Carney says 'Canada is working', as Alberta readies for referendum
Prime Minister Mark Carney addressed the thorny issue of Alberta’s separatist movement on Friday with a metaphorical plea for unity, saying it's time to build up the country together.

Carney says 'Canada is working', as Alberta readies for referendum

Ebola: How it spreads, the treatments available and why this outbreak is so devastating

Ebola: How it spreads, the treatments available and why this outbreak is so devastating
As a rare strain of Ebola virus continues to spread in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, here's what Canadians need to know.  

Ebola: How it spreads, the treatments available and why this outbreak is so devastating

Anand says Canadians subject to 'appalling abuse' after flotilla detained by Israel

Anand says Canadians subject to 'appalling abuse' after flotilla detained by Israel
Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand says she has received details from her officials in Turkey about the "appalling abuse" suffered by Canadians who were on board a flotilla trying to reach Gaza.

Anand says Canadians subject to 'appalling abuse' after flotilla detained by Israel

How 'FIRE' is Fueling the Dream of Never Working Again

How 'FIRE' is Fueling the Dream of Never Working Again
FIRE stands for Financial Independence, Retire Early. At its core, it is a personal finance philosophy built around one radical idea: that retirement is not an age but a number.  

How 'FIRE' is Fueling the Dream of Never Working Again

5 Signs of Canada’s Increased Focus on Defense

5 Signs of Canada’s Increased Focus on Defense
Canada’s defense policy is undergoing a noticeable and increasingly structural shift, shaped by global instability, evolving security threats, and changing expectations from its closest allies. In recent years, rising geopolitical tensions, renewed competition in the Arctic region, and sustained pressure from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) regarding capability and spending commitments have pushed Canada to significantly expand both its defense budget and the scope of its military modernization efforts. 

5 Signs of Canada’s Increased Focus on Defense