Wildfires in B.C.’s Okanagan region impacting tens of thousands of farm animals

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Penticton, B.C. (Rural Roots Canada) – The devastating wildfires burning throughout B.C.’s Okanagan region are impacting tens of thousands of farm animals, as the government and agricultural organizations work to get them out of harm’s way.

In its most recent seasonal preparedness update, Lena Popham, Minister of Agriculture and Food, said ministry officials are in constant communication with farmers, local government, and industry associations to get the latest information and coordinate efforts to move animals away from the wildfire threat.

“Currently, there are 269 agricultural premises impacted by wildfire activity,” said Popham. “146 are under evacuation order, and 123 are under alert. This is impacting approximately 50,000 animals. That doesn’t mean that those animals are necessarily in imminent danger, but they are threatened, and we are trying to manage that on the ground right now.”

Popham says two programs currently implemented and proven to be quite effective are the Rancher Liaison program and the Range Rider program, in coordination with the BC Cattlemen’s Association.

The Rancher Liaison program deploys trained ranchers to active wildfires throughout the province to support BC Wildfire Service and Incident Management Teams and work with government staff and agricultural coordinators on the ground. The Range Rider program deploys a team of experienced riders during emergencies on the land, from wildfires to flooding, to bring cattle back to safe areas with feed, water, or onto buddy farms.

“A recent example is the Coldwater Indian Band area,” said Popham. “They were put under evacuation order, and 1,500 cattle were moved within 24 hours, and are now safely at their buddy ranches.”

Popham said she has received reports of livestock losses and significant impacts to farms, ranches and vineyards with regard to irrigation, infrastructure and fencing, which she said they will address over the coming months. There are also roaming cattle to account for.

“The full extent of damages, sometimes with a fire of this magnitude, we don’t really know until later in the fall.”

Also affected by the fires are B.C.’s orchardists and vineyards, with wildfire smoke and soot affecting the crops.

“Right now it’s peach season up in the Okanagan, and the farmers that have worked all year to bring in that harvest are now being kept away from those orchards,” Popham added. “They’re just heartbroken to see their crop rotting in the orchards.”

The Bald Range fire threatening Summerland, B.C., and surrounding areas claimed the life of an 80-year-old woman who was fleeing the flames, and displaced more than 20,000 people.

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