PENTICTON — Many of the wildfires burning across British Columbia have been smoked out for a number of days, while it results in poor air quality it is helping in the fire fight.

The remarks by Cliff Chapman with the B-C Wildfire Service come as a thick layer of smoke settles over the city of Penticton, drifting south from the Summerland, where the Bald Range fire forced thousands to flee last weekend.

Chapman says the smoke has settled in valley bottoms and helps to suppress the flames by preventing the fires from getting clean oxygen.

He says a shift in weather that causes the smoke to clear may increase the potential for the fire to spread.

About 100 fires are burning across B.C., with about half of them burning out of control.

Chapman says there has been fire growth on many of the wildfires burning across B.C. despite tempered wind, which also speaks to the dryness and drought conditions in southern B.C.

Telecommunications giant Telus says it is devoting $2 million to communities affected by the wildfires, aimed at providing network connectivity, data top-ups and bill credits for customers.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 12, 2026.

The Canadian Press