A Tribute to Our First Responders and the Summerland Community

Dear Friends, Passengers, and Neighbours,

Our community is facing an incredibly difficult chapter. As many of you are aware, the aggressive Bald Range wildfire has forced the evacuation of Summerland and surrounding areas. Because of these extreme conditions and current evacuation orders, all operations at the Kettle Valley Steam Railway are temporarily suspended until further notice.

While our trains are safely secured and our station is quiet, our hearts are full of gratitude. Today, we aren’t writing to share our train schedules or historical trivia. Instead, we want to take a moment to honor the people fighting to keep our community safe.

To Our First Responders: Thank You

To the courageous crews of the BC Wildfire Service, the local Summerland Fire Department, the RCMP, and the countless first responders who have rushed in from across the province and the world—thank you. You are facing unprecedented, explosive conditions to protect our homes, our history, and our beautiful Okanagan Valley.

We also want to extend our deepest appreciation to the community volunteers, neighbors helping neighbors, and those working tirelessly to shelter displaced families and animals. Your selflessness is a powerful reminder of what makes Summerland such a special place to live and operate.

Stay Safe and Informed

The safety of our residents and staff is the only priority right now. We urge everyone to follow all evacuation orders and guidance from local authorities.

If you are looking for accurate, up-to-date information, please rely on these official resources:

• BC Wildfire Service Dashboard: For real-time updates on the Bald Range fire and current conditions.
• EmergencyInfoBC: For province-wide emergency alerts and evacuation orders.
• District of Summerland & RDOS: For localized civic updates and support resources.
• DriveBC: For the latest on highway closures and safe travel routes.

The Strength of the Okanagan

The Kettle Valley Railway has been a fixture of this rugged landscape for over a century. Over the decades, it has weathered harsh winters, rockslides, and past fires. The enduring spirit of this railway is a direct reflection of the people who built it and the community that surrounds it today.

We do not know exactly when the smoke will clear or when we will be able to return calls and welcome you back aboard. But we do know that Summerland is resilient, and we will get through this crisis together.

Until it is safe to return, please take care of yourselves and each other. We are keeping everyone affected by the Bald Range wildfire in our thoughts.

We will see you down the track.

The Team at the Kettle Valley Steam Railway