Abbotsford news

• ATVBC recommends members postpone riding due to fire risk

  08-08-2026 01:15 via abbynews.com
  
  One B.C. organization that advocates on behalf of off-road riders is recommending that its members postpone riding until conditions improve, while another says that it respects whatever decision its members make.
  On Aug. 5, both the Quad Riders ATV Association of British Columbia (ATVBC) and the Four Wheel Drive Association of BC (4WDABC) issued statements about the current situation in the province’s backcountry.
  ATVBC has recommended that its members postpone any riding they have planned
  
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• PHOTOS: Longstanding Chilliwack Fair still going strong

  09-08-2026 02:21 via abbynews.com
  
  Thousands of people came out to the historic Chilliwack Fair on the weekend at Chilliwack Heritage Park.
  With the theme ‘shake, cattle and roll’, the 154th annual event – and also B.C.’s second-longest continuously running agricultural fair – was packed with people of all ages.
  The three-day event included 4-H competitions, the 38th annual Chilliwack Rodeo, live entertainment, fair entries on display, a dog stunt show, pig races, antique farming equipment and much m
  
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• Surrey’s ‘Ugly Potato Day’ breaks Guinness World Record

  09-08-2026 02:17 via abbynews.com
  
  Surrey’s Ugly Potato Day by Odd Bunch has broken the Guinness World Record for the largest donation of fruits and vegetables for 24 hours by giving away 246,528.61 kg (543,501 lbs).Tyler Heppell started the event in 2022 with 12 people coming out to his family’s South Surrey farm to pick up free “ugly” produce that would otherwise be thrown away.From there, it has grown to over 30,000 people attending this year’s world-record-setting event at Cloverdale’s Agri
  
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• VIDEO: Vancouver Bandits edged out by Winnipeg in western finals

  09-08-2026 02:10 via abbynews.com
  
  Shorthanded, and playing more than 2,000 kilometres from home, the Winnipeg Sea Bears defeated the Vancouver Bandits 107-96 on Saturday afternoon at the Langley Events Centre to win the Western Conference Final and make franchise history.Shamar Givance was top Bandit, putting up 21 points in front of 3,985 fans at Langley Events Centre
  Winnipeg’s Simon Hildebrandt was the story of the night, putting up 24 points on 9-of-14 shooting.
  For Hildebrandt, reaching the CEBL Finals for the first t
  
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• RCMP working to confirm fatality from Summerland wildfire

  09-08-2026 01:29 via abbynews.com
  
  Police are working to confirm a possible fatality from the massive Bald Range wildfire that tore through the Central Okanagan and forced the evacuation of the Summerland community Friday night.“Evacuations of entire neighbourhoods and communities were largely successful but not without challenges to areas cut off by the wildfire,” the Southeast District RCMP said in a media release Saturday afternoon, Aug. 8.“Southeast District RCMP is aware of one impacted resident from Meadow
  
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• UPDATE: ‘Aggressive’ wildfire grows to 10,340 hectares in Summerland

  09-08-2026 00:37 via abbynews.com
  
  UPDATE (3 P.M.)
  The Bald Range wildfire has grown to 10,340 hectares in size, BC Wildfire Service says.
  Additional firefighters, aircraft, and heavy equipment have been deployed to the fast-moving blaze, with Penticton-Summerland MLA Amelia Boultbee urging people to avoid all travel to the South Okanagan.
  “This fire continues to pose a significant risk,” Boultbee said. “Please follow the direction of Emergency Management BC — if you are told to evacuate, do it immediately
  
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• Penticton Peach Festival pivots, schedules fire relief concert

  09-08-2026 00:23 via abbynews.com
  
  The Penticton Peach Festival is holding a concert Saturday night, Aug. 8, to raise funds for those impacted by the Bald Range wildfire.
  After cancelling all activities on Saturday at the festival, organizers are inviting people to the Penticton Lakeside Resort for Peach Fest Fire Relief, featuring Canadian pop artist Virginia to Vegas.
  Doors open at 7 p.m., with the show starting at 8 p.m. inside the venue’s east ballroom.
  Admission is by donation, with a minimum contribution of $10. A 50/
  
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• Emergency crews called to Cultus Lake for possible drowning

  08-08-2026 23:09 via abbynews.com
  
  Emergency crews were called out to Cultus Lake for a possible drowning on Saturday afternoon.
  The incident happened around 1:30 p.m. at Entrance Bay on Aug. 8.
  A landing zone for an air ambulance was set up at Cultus Lake Elementary.
  People are being asked to avoid Entrance Bay as there are many emergency vehicles in the area.
  Check back for more information as it becomes available.
  
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• B.C. declares provincial state of emergency 1 day after wildfire evacuates Summerland

  08-08-2026 22:37 via abbynews.com
  
  B.C. has declared a province-wide state of emergency in response to wildfires plaguing the province.
  Premier David Eby announced the declaration at a press conference at 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8, following Friday night’s explosive wildfire event that forced an entire Okanagan community to flee for safety.
  The Bald Range wildfire is burning out of control, estimated at 9,500 hectares in size as of 1 p.m. Aug. 8. In a matter of hours, the wildfire rapidly encroached on Summerland and forced
  
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• 2 wildfires burn in Hemlock Valley area

  08-08-2026 22:20 via abbynews.com
  
  Two wildfires are burning out of control in the Hemlock Valley area, according to the B.C. Wildfire Service.The Twin Lakes fire measures 6.3 hectares in size west of Hemlock Valley near the Twin Lakes Recreation Site and Statlu Creek. It was discovered on Friday (Aug. 7) evening and has seen minimal overnight growth. A crew has been working on the fire overnight, and helicopter bucket operations supported fire suppression on the north and northeast flanks. Heavy equipment is on site to support f
  
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• New evacuation orders issued for Ainslie Creek wildfire near Merritt

  08-08-2026 22:00 via abbynews.com
  
  More evacuation orders and alerts have been issued in response to the Ainslie Creek wildfire southwest of Merritt, which as of Saturday (Aug. 8) was estimated at 48,537 hectares.
  On Saturday, the Thompson-Nicola Regional District (TNRD) issued an evacuation order for approximately 61 addressed properties on the fire’s northeastern flank in Electoral Area “N.” The order includes all addressed properties west of Spius Creek, including Petit Creek Road and Prospect Creek FSR.
  On F
  
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• ‘Rush of 10,000 people’ come into Penticton, flee fast-moving Bald Range wildfire

  08-08-2026 21:27 via abbynews.com
  
  Penticton Mayor Julius Bloomfield said he’s seen an “outpour of support” toward the thousands of Summerland evacuees who were ordered to leave their homes overnight due to the Bald Range wildfire.
  Residents have stepped up with donations of food, water, blankets, and bedding as evacuees stay inside both the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre (PTCC) and the Sportsplex dome at King’s Park.
  “Suddenly, we had the population of Summerland, which is roughly 25 per cent
  
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• BCHL to oversee Island hockey league under renewed deal

  08-08-2026 20:30 via abbynews.com
  
  A partnership between two independent junior hockey leagues with Vancouver Island roots is set to enter a new phase.
  The British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) and Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League (VIJHL) have extended their partnership under an enhanced management agreement, with the BCHL office set to oversee VIJHL operations beginning with the 2027-28 season.
  The BCHL office will operate the VIJHL at the direction of the VIJHL board of governors and executive committee. The length of the
  
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• Penticton Peach Festival cancels all Saturday activities due to Bald Range fire

  08-08-2026 20:22 via abbynews.com
  
  Penticton Peach Festival organizers have cancelled all activities on Saturday (Aug. 8) amid the Bald Range wildfire that evacuated the entire community of Summerland overnight.
  The announcement comes after the festival’s annual parade did not proceed on Saturday morning.
  “We are currently facing an evolving situation with a level of uncertainty that is beyond our control,” event organizers said. “What remains firmly within our control is our commitment to putting the safe
  
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• Four fires burning near Clinton grow to nearly 200,000 hectares

  08-08-2026 20:04 via abbynews.com
  
  The wildfires in and around the Big Bar complex near Clinton are still burning out of control, and as of Saturday morning (Aug. 8) cover an area of almost 200,000 hectares.
  The Pear Lake fire near Clinton is estimated at 136,485 hectares, while the Rim Lake fire between Loon Lake and Chasm is estimated at 4,795 hectares. The French Bar Creek fire around Big Bar is estimated at 39,044 hectares.
  The Bonanza Creek wildfire, burning to the west of the Pear Lake and French Bar Creek fires, is not cur
  
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• Suspected targeted overnight shooting in Surrey leaves one injured

  08-08-2026 19:39 via abbynews.com
  
  One person was injured in a suspected targeted late-night shooting in Surrey.Police responded to the shooting around 11:44 p.m. Friday (Aug. 7) outside a home near 88 Ave and 127 Street. The suspect had fled the scene before police arrived, but they located the victim, a man who had a gunshot wound.BC Emergency Health Services transported the man to a local hospital with “non-life-threatening injuries.”Surrey Police’s major crime section is investigating the shooting, and they
  
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• UPDATE: Small wildfire north of Hope now under control

  08-08-2026 18:40 via abbynews.com
  
  UPDATE 2:
  At 2:13 p.m. on Aug. 8, the fire was classified as ‘under control’.
  UPDATE 1:
  As of 10:34 a.m. on Aug. 8, the wildfire was classified as ‘being held’ meaning it is not expected to spread, according to BC Wildfire Service.
  ORIGINAL STORY:
  A small out-of-control wildfire was discovered north of Hope on Friday.
  The fire (V11487) is one hectare in size and was found on Aug. 7 near Puckat Creek, according to BC Wildfire Service.
  Aviation crews and a response officer
  
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• UPDATE: Small wildfire north of Hope now being held

  08-08-2026 18:40 via abbynews.com
  
  UPDATE:
  As of 10:34 a.m. on Aug. 8, the wildfire was classified as ‘being held’, according to BC Wildfire Service.
  ORIGINAL STORY:
  A small out-of-control wildfire was discovered north of Hope on Friday.
  The fire (V11487) is one hectare in size and was found on Aug. 7 near Puckat Creek, according to BC Wildfire Service.
  Aviation crews and a response officer are on scene, and ground crews have been assigned to the fire.
  The suspected cause of the fire is under investigation.
  
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• Small out-of-control wildfire sparks north of Hope

  08-08-2026 18:40 via abbynews.com
  
  A small out-of-control wildfire was discovered north of Hope on Friday.
  The fire (V11487) is one hectare in size and was found on Aug. 7 near Puckat Creek, according to BC Wildfire Service.
  Aviation crews and a response officer are on scene, and ground crews have been assigned to the fire.
  The suspected cause of the fire is under investigation.
  
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• Annual meteor shower brings stargazers to Aldergrove park

  08-08-2026 18:00 via abbynews.com
  
  Stargazers from around the region will come to Aldergrove Regional Park on Aug. 15 to check out an annual light show in the sky – the Perseid meteor shower.
  There are between 50 and 100 shooting stars over the course of the night, said Vanessa Lee, a park interpretation specialist for Metro Vancouver Regional Parks.
  A shooting star is a meteor – a piece of rock, ice, or metal that is pulled into earth’s atmosphere by the planet’s gravity and burns brightly as its plunge t
  
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• UPDATE: Bald Range wildfire now 9,500 hectares as Summerland evacuees flee to Penticton

  08-08-2026 17:03 via abbynews.com
  
  UPDATE (9:40 A.M.)
  The Bald Range wildfire has grown to 9,500 hectares in size.
  Central Okanagan Search and Rescue (COSAR) crews assisted Saturday morning in evacuating the entire community of Summerland. Thousands in the Peachland area are also under an evacuation order.
  In total, more than 20,000 people have been ordered to leave their homes.
  Evacuee reception centres are open in Penticton and West Kelowna:
  •Penticton Trade and Convention Centre, 273 Power Street;
  • 550 Eckhardt Aven
  
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• District of Summerland evacuated, Hwy 97 closed due to raging Bald Range wildfire

  08-08-2026 17:03 via abbynews.com
  
  The entire District of Summerland remains under an evacuation order due to the Bald Range Wildfire.
  ​Several neighbourhoods in the District of Peachland are also under evacuation orders or alerts.
  ​The Central Okanagan Regional District is telling those in the area to leave immediately.
  “Failure to do so could result in injury and loss of life.”
  ​The Bald Range wildfire continues to burn out of control Saturday morning and is estimated at 5,000 hectares according to
  
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• Driving hazards in wildfire areas include smoke, debris

  08-08-2026 14:00 via abbynews.com
  
  Wildfires have closed numerous highways and roads throughout the Southern Interior, Cariboo, and Okanagan, and drivers are being warned that smoke, poor visibility, heat, and debris could make driving more dangerous on many roads.
  Avoiding unnecessary travel near wildfires is the safest bet, but if you have to drive, have a safety plan. That’s the advice from Road Safety at Work, with Program Director Trace Acres saying bluntly, “If you don’t need to drive through wildfire cond
  
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• COLUMN: What a Columbia Valley power outage taught me about preparedness

  08-08-2026 14:00 via abbynews.com
  
  Until last Sunday, Aug. 2, I’d never seriously considered packing spare food, cash, fuel or a satellite phone on road trips.
  That changed after I found myself among nearly 18,000 East Kootenay residents living between Golden and Canal Flats who had lost power due to wildfire-related damage to BC Hydro’s transmission systems.
  I set out the day before for Radium Hot Springs to explore Kootenay National Park. I’d never been south of Golden, making the experience full of excitement
  
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• UPDATE: Trout Creek added to Summerland evacuation orders for Bald Range wildfire

  08-08-2026 09:27 via abbynews.com
  
  2:20 a.m.
  Evacuation orders have extended south of Summerland and now include Trout Creek.The Bald Range wildfire is spreading rapidly and threatening human life and safety.Everyone in the area should leave immediately.Highway 97 remains closed in both directions from 500 metres north of Hardy Street in Peachland south to the Pyramid Picnic Area in Kickininee Provincial Park.Evacuees should leave the area by travelling south toward Penticton.Evacuation orders have extended south of Summerland an
  
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• UPDATE: Peachland properties on evacuation order, Highway 97 closure extended

  08-08-2026 09:27 via abbynews.com
  
  Update: 2:02 a.m.
  An evacuation order has been expanded to properties on Brenda Mine Road and in the Renfrew and Upper Princeton areas. Residents on evacuation order should leave their properties immediately to keep safe.
  DriveBC has also extended the Highway 97 closure. It now stretches from 500metres north of Hardy Street in Peachland to the Pyramid Picnic Area in Kickininee Provincial Park.
  The following addresses are covered in the order:
  Aikens Road (all properties)
  875 Brenda Mines Road
  Bl
  
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• UPDATE: Part of Peachland on evacuation alert as Bald Range wildfire pushes north

  08-08-2026 09:27 via abbynews.com
  
  3:45 a.m.
  A new evacuation alert has been issued for properties in Peachland for the Bald Range wildfire.The properties on alert are:4900 Brenda Mines Road
  5503 Glen Lake Forest Service Road
  6000 Sanderson Avenue
  Silver Lake Forest Service Road (All Properties)
  4421 – 4440 1st Street
  4402 – 4479 2nd Street
  4405 – 4478 3rd Street
  4416 – 4475 4th Street
  4411 – 4445 5th Street
  4445 – 4460 6th Street
  5810 – 5819 Arthur Street
  5803 – 5821 Atkinson Cresc
  
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• UPDATE: Highway 97 closed, Summerland evacuated from raging wildfire

  08-08-2026 09:27 via abbynews.com
  
  Update: 1:02 a.m.
  Highway 97 is closed in both directions through Summerland as the Bald Range wildfire continues to spread.The closure starts 500 metres north of Hardy Street in Peachland and extends south to Bentley Road in Summerland.Update: 12:57 a.m.
  The RCMP has closed the northbound lanes of Highway 97 coming into Summerland, according to reports.DriveBC has not provided an official update on the highways within the current wildfire impacted areas.
  Update: 12:24 a.m.
  All of Summerland in
  
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• UPDATE: Evacuation order issued for parts of Peachland due to Bald Range wildfire

  08-08-2026 09:27 via abbynews.com
  
  UPDATE: 5:28 a.m.
  An evacuation order has been issued for the Upper Princeton and Renfrew neighbourhoods in Peachland due to the Bald Range wildfire.Central Okanagan Emergency Management is telling the residents to leave the designated area immediately.
  Failure to do so could result in injury and loss of life.
  This alert will remain in effect until further notice.The following addresses are covered in the order:
  Aikens Road (all properties)
  875 Brenda Mines Road
  Blacksmith Place (all properties)
  
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• UPDATE: All of Summerland ordered to evacuate as wildfire approaches Highway 97

  08-08-2026 09:27 via abbynews.com
  
  Update: 12:24 a.m.
  All of Summerland in its entirety is under evacuation order due to the Bald Range wildfire.Everyone must leave the area immediately. Members of the RCMP, Search and Rescue and BC Wildfire will be expediting this action.
  Highway 97 still appears open from Penticton to West Kelowna including Drought Hill. Highway 97C has no reported closures. DriveBC has not provided an update on the highways within the current wildfire impacted areas.
  What you should do:
  • Follow the evacu
  
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