Bald Range Wildfire Support for Businesses, Farms and Families
Community Futures Okanagan Similkameen (CFOS) is supporting businesses, farms, nonprofit organizations and self-employed people affected by the Summerland and Okanagan wildfires—whether or not they are existing Community Futures clients. This page also provides trusted referrals for owners, employees and families.
If you are in immediate danger, call 9-1-1. Follow all evacuation orders and instructions from emergency officials. Conditions and services are changing quickly; official emergency sources always take priority over this page.
More Information
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Official alerts, evacuation orders and ESS registration • Current local updates: Check the RDOS Emergency Operations Centre and District of Summerland community updates. • Is your property under an Alert or Order? Use the RDOS evacuation map. • Wildfire status: Follow the Bald Range Wildfire dashboard. • Emergency notifications: Register for Voyent Alert. • Road conditions and closures: Check DriveBC. Do not rely only on Google Maps or use forest service roads unless emergency officials direct you to do so. If you are under an Evacuation Order, register with Emergency Support Services (ESS), even if you do not currently need help. ESS may provide eligible evacuees with short-term accommodation, food, clothing and other basic supports. • Register for ESS online • BC Evacuee Helpline: 1-800-387-4258 • RDOS EOC information line: 250-490-4225 Reception-centre locations and hours can change. Confirm them through the RDOS EOC before travelling.
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CFOS assistance for all affected businesses CFOS can help any affected business, farm, nonprofit or self-employed operator in the Okanagan-Similkameen—not only existing clients. Support is confidential and may include: • Identifying immediate needs and the right point of contact. • Help organizing insurance, cash-flow, staffing, supplier and reopening issues. • Business-continuity and recovery planning. • Referrals to government, insurance, employment, agriculture and community supports. • Documenting losses and economic impacts to help CFOS advocate for recovery funding. • Case-by-case loan support for existing CFOS borrowers. CFOS will contact current borrowers and discuss available options individually. Contact CFOS: 250-493-2566 or info@cfokanagan.com
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Insurance and claims Contact your insurance broker or insurer as soon as you safely can. Most insurers provide 24-hour claims service. 1. Ask for a claim number and the name and contact information of the adjuster assigned to you. 2. Ask what business interruption, temporary premises, extra expense, debris removal, equipment, inventory, vehicle and professional-fee coverage may apply. 3. Keep receipts for emergency purchases, temporary accommodation or workspace, transportation, cleanup and other wildfire-related costs. 4. When authorities say it is safe to return, photograph or video damage and prepare an inventory of lost or damaged property. Do not enter an evacuated area or dispose of damaged items unless safety requires it or your insurer authorizes it. 5. Keep a written log of calls, decisions, expenses, cancelled orders and lost revenue. Coverage varies by policy; get important decisions in writing. Insurance Bureau of Canada wildfire support: • 1-844-227-5422 (1-844-2ASK-IBC) • [AskIBCWest@ibc.ca](mailto:AskIBCWest@ibc.ca) • Wildfire insurance and claims guidance Disaster Financial Assistance: As of August 10, B.C. lists no authorized event for individual, small-business, farm or charitable-organization assistance. Wildfire damage is also generally treated as an insurable peril. Check the official Disaster Financial Assistance page for any change.
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Family and mental-health supports Business owners and employees may also be dealing with evacuation, loss of a home, concern for family members and severe stress. You do not need to manage this alone. • 211 British Columbia: Call or text 2-1-1, 24 hours a day, for free, confidential help finding local accommodation, food, family, financial, health and community supports. • Mental Health Support Line: 310-6789 (no area code), 24/7. • Crisis or suicide support: Call or text 9-8-8. Call 9-1-1 for immediate danger or a life-threatening emergency. • KUU-US Indigenous Crisis Services: 1-800-588-8717, 24/7. • Métis Crisis Line: 1-833-638-4722. • Farmers and agricultural workers: AgLife provides B.C.-specific mental-wellness resources and access to agriculture-informed counselling. • Families of residents evacuated from Dr. Andrew Pavilion or Summerland Seniors Village: Interior Health’s information line is 1-833-971-5045. The United Way BC Wildfire Recovery Fund and Canadian Red Cross 2026 British Columbia Wildfires Appeal support relief and recovery work. These appeals do not currently advertise a direct individual cash application. People seeking help should begin with ESS and 211. Information on this page is general guidance, not legal, accounting or insurance advice. Program eligibility and coverage depend on individual circumstances.
Employees, payroll and business continuity Put employee safety first. Maintain one reliable contact list, confirm that staff are safe, and do not ask employees to enter an evacuation area. Employers must assess wildfire and smoke risks and have appropriate evacuation procedures. Review WorkSafeBC’s wildfire guidance. If operations are reduced or stopped: • Tell employees what is known, what remains uncertain and when they will next hear from you. • Preserve payroll, banking, customer, supplier and insurance records in a secure off-site or cloud location. • Prioritize payroll, insurance notices, critical suppliers, data backups and customer communications. • If an interruption of earnings occurs, issue Records of Employment promptly. Workers unable to work because of a wildfire or evacuation should apply for Employment Insurance as soon as possible, even if an ROE is not yet available. • The federal Work-Sharing Program may help eligible employers avoid layoffs by reducing hours while EI provides income support. The regular program requires an agreement among the employer, employees and Service Canada; CFOS can help determine whether it is practical. • Tax, payroll and filing obligations do not automatically stop during a disaster. If circumstances beyond your control prevent compliance, the CRA may consider relief from penalties and interest. Relief is not automatic and does not generally erase the underlying tax or remittance. Contact CFOS if you need help developing a short-term cash-flow forecast, employee communication plan, temporary operating plan or recovery priorities.
Agriculture-specific assistance Farmers, ranchers, wineries, growers and food producers should document losses early, including crops, livestock, equipment, irrigation, buildings, stored products, lost sales and added recovery costs. Contact your insurer or program representative before disposing of or changing damaged crops, inventory or assets unless immediate action is required for safety or animal welfare. • AgriService BC: 1-888-221-7141 or [AgriServiceBC@gov.bc.ca](mailto:AgriServiceBC@gov.bc.ca) for help identifying appropriate agriculture programs and regional expertise. • Production Insurance: Report insured crop losses promptly at 1-888-332-3352. • AgriStability: May support farms with a significant margin decline. Existing participants can ask about a Notice of Loss and an interim payment. Producers not already enrolled may use 2026 late participation until November 30, 2026; a fee and benefit reduction apply. Call 1-877-343-2767. • AgriInvest: Producers may be able to use their account for immediate cash-flow needs. AgriRecovery is not an automatic standing grant. Governments must first assess the disaster and announce a specific initiative. No Bald Range wildfire AgriRecovery program has been announced as of August 10. Reporting losses through CFOS and agriculture officials will help establish the evidence needed for any additional response.