- CatIQ estimates insured losses from the Bald Range wildfire in British Columbia at CAD 313 mn, covering residential and commercial property, motor claims and additional loss adjustment expenses.
- The wildfire spread across more than 10,000 hectares in less than 24 hours, prompting evacuation orders affecting over 5,000 addresses near Summerland for almost two weeks.
- British Columbia recorded three new wildfire catastrophe declarations in 2026, with burned acreage reaching 90% of its 20-year average despite the number of fires remaining at 80% of the average.
CatIQ, the Toronto-based provider of industry-wide catastrophe insurance data and a subsidiary of PERILS, has estimated insured losses from the Bald Range wildfire in British Columbia, Canada, at CAD 313 mn ($219 mn).
The initial industry loss estimate covers the fire that affected Summerland and surrounding communities between August 7 and 18, 2026. It provides an early assessment of insured damage based on information available approximately three weeks after the event.
The estimate includes residential and commercial property losses, vehicle insurance claims and additional loss adjustment expenses. CatIQ said more detailed meteorological information about the wildfire is available through its subscriber platform.
The Bald Range fire was first detected west of Summerland on August 7 and spread rapidly through exceptionally dry vegetation. By the following afternoon, the blaze had expanded to more than 10,000 hectares.
Evacuation orders affected more than 5,000 addresses across the region for nearly two weeks, while some communities on the outskirts of Summerland suffered extensive destruction.
Caroline Floyd, Director of CatIQ, said British Columbia had experienced particularly severe insured losses during another difficult Canadian wildfire season.
2026 has been another challenging year for wildfires across Canada, and British Columbia has seen some of the worst direct impacts in terms of insured losses with three new catastrophes declared to date.
Caroline Floyd, Director of CatIQ
She attributed the rapid spread of the Bald Range fire, which exceeded 10,000 hectares within 24 hours, to the unusually dry conditions across British Columbia’s Interior.
Floyd also pointed to provincial wildfire statistics as a possible indication of greater fire intensity in 2026.
According to British Columbia Wildfire Service figures cited by CatIQ, the province’s total burned area had reached approximately 90% of its 20-year average, despite the number of recorded fires standing at only 80% of the historical average.
The difference between fire frequency and total area burned may indicate that individual wildfires have been particularly intense during the 2026 season, although CatIQ characterized this as a potential indication rather than a definitive conclusion.
