Wine Growers BC says safety remains the priority as wineries and vineyards across the region respond to evacuation orders and wildfire threats
[Updated since original posting on August 11]
The British Columbia wine industry is responding to an escalating wildfire situation across the province, with wineries, vineyards and wine-industry workers among those affected as fires continue to threaten communities in the Okanagan and elsewhere.
According to Wine Growers British Columbia (WGBC), the immediate priority remains the safety of residents, winery and vineyard teams, emergency responders and communities impacted by the fires.
The entire district of Summerland, B.C., was placed under a mandatory evacuation order two weeks ago as wildfire conditions intensified in the area. Several wineries have temporarily closed as a result of the situation, with some properties evacuated as a precaution.
Solvero Wines, located in Summerland, announced on social media August 8 that it had temporarily closed the winery and evacuated the property due to the ongoing wildfire situation affecting Summerland and nearby communities. On August 9, the winery reported that all structures on the property appeared to be untouched by the fire.
Lightning Rock Winery, also located in Summerland, has likewise reported that its winery appeared to have been spared. Several other wineries in the area have temporarily closed for safety purposes as conditions continue to evolve.
“Right now, the only priority is keeping people safe,” said Jeff Guignard, President and CEO of Wine Growers BC. “Our thoughts are with everyone who has been displaced or impacted by these fires, and we are deeply grateful to the firefighters, first responders, emergency crews, local officials, and volunteers working around the clock to protect people, homes, and businesses.”
WGBC says it is in direct contact with affected wineries, government, industry and tourism partners to understand emerging needs and help coordinate support.
The organization is also working to turn offers of assistance from across the wine community into practical support for affected businesses and their teams. Depending on emerging needs, this could include temporary staff accommodation, accommodation for animals, temperature-controlled storage, transportation, labour, equipment and other industry resources.
“It is still far too early to assess what the fires may mean for individual wineries, vineyards, or the 2026 vintage,” said Guignard. “Conditions are changing quickly and impacts can vary dramatically from one property to another. Wine Growers BC will not speculate about vine loss, wine quality, or potential smoke impacts while people are still dealing with evacuations and emergency crews are responding.”
British Columbia’s wine industry spans nine distinct wine regions across a large geographic area, with conditions varying considerably from community to community. WGBC is urging residents and visitors to put safety first, follow all evacuation orders, alerts and directions from emergency officials, and check current road and wildfire conditions before travelling.
Winery operating status can also change quickly. Those planning to visit B.C. wine country are encouraged to check directly with individual wineries before travelling and to avoid areas where evacuation orders, alerts or other travel advisories are in effect.
August 21 update: Strong recovery across Summerland sites following Bald Range Wildfire
Okanagan Crush Pad is relieved to report that its team, vineyards, winery, and the majority of its farming infrastructure have come through the Bald Range wildfire in remarkably good condition.
The wildfire moved through the Faulder and Garnet Valley communities last week, prompting the evacuation of Summerland. With the fire now moving away from the community, phased re-entry has begun in parts of town. Earlier access was granted to essential service workers, farmers, and commercial operations with processing at risk, allowing critical farming and production work to resume.
This limited access has allowed the Okanagan Crush Pad team to assess its Summerland properties, including Monro Vineyard, the Summerland Food Hub Vineyard, Switchback Vineyard, Haywire Winery and Garnet Valley Ranch.
The news from Monro, the Food Hub and Switchback vineyards is very positive: all three are in fine condition. Once power was restored, the team was able to reconnect remotely to irrigation systems and resume watering remotely.
At Haywire Winery, where Okanagan Crush Pad’s winemaking and cellar operations are based, the winery and its contents are secure. The winemaking team has inspected the cellar and reports that the wines in tank are in excellent condition.
The cellar’s construction proved particularly valuable during the five-day power outage. The building, together with the winery’s extensive use of concrete tanks, helped maintain naturally cool and stable cellar temperatures throughout the outage.
Garnet Valley: A community coming together
While Okanagan Crush Pad has much to be grateful for, many of its neighbours in Garnet Valley and the surrounding area experienced substantial losses, including homes, horse stables, hay barns, greenhouses, and crops.
“We mourn these losses and will be there to support our neighbours in any way we can,” said Okanagan Crush Pad co-founder Steve Lornie. “Garnet Valley is a close-knit community, and we know its strength firsthand.”
That strength was demonstrated recently when Garnet Valley residents rallied against a proposed gravel pit that many believed would have significantly affected the character of the valley. The experience forged new relationships and strengthened existing ones—connections that are proving especially meaningful now.
“A group of us came together around the gravel pit application, and in doing so we formed an even stronger bond as neighbours,” said Lornie. “That bond will help carry this community through what is an incredibly difficult time. Garnet Valley is strong, and we will rebuild together.”
As a small symbol of that spirit, Okanagan Crush Pad has printed 200 Garnet Valley Strong signs to place along the road and share with neighbours as residents begin returning to the valley.
Garnet Valley Ranch
Garnet Valley Ranch was directly in the path of the wildfire, which swept across the 320-acre property. While there are meaningful losses to absorb, the team’s first assessment has provided many reasons for gratitude.
Thoughtful land management and fire mitigation strategies, including a large pond for helicopter water bucketing at the centre of the property, fire hydrants on the perimeter, an eight-acre wetland reserve, irrigated green spaces, clear areas around buildings and rooftop sprinkler systems, appear to have significantly limited the overall impact.
Most importantly, the actively farmed vineyard blocks remain intact, as does much of the property’s essential farming infrastructure and equipment. Evidence of the fire can be seen in the vineyard, particularly in the dry grass between rows, but these areas are expected to recover quickly with irrigation or rainfall.
Worker accommodation was spared with only minor damage. The pumphouse and farm equipment—including tractors, mowers, and sprayers—are unharmed. The Outlook Visitor Centre and Shade Sail area were also untouched, while the event pavilion sustained partial damage.
The winery storage cellar and workshop survived remarkably well. Irrigated grass between these buildings and the property’s original log house appears to have provided an important buffer from the fire.
The log house itself was lost, with only its chimney remaining. A storage area approximately 50 metres away, containing more than 140 picking bins and lids, as well as vineyard bird netting, was also lost.
Damage within the vineyard is concentrated primarily in fallow areas that had not been irrigated this season. Metal vineyard posts remain in these blocks, while some wooden end posts, fencing and plastic irrigation components will need to be replaced.
The team’s immediate priority has been restoring water to the vineyard. Crews began irrigating lower areas of the ranch on Friday, and a large generator is being installed to restore irrigation to the remaining vineyard blocks while the property awaits the return of electrical service, which may take several weeks.
The generator was loaned to Okanagan Crush Pad by Penticton’s Greyback Construction—one of many examples of the generosity and community support being extended to those affected by the wildfire.
While seeing fire move through Garnet Valley Ranch has been difficult for everyone connected to this special place, the first assessment offers considerable reason for optimism. The actively farmed vineyards survived. Critical equipment and infrastructure remain. Key hospitality and working spaces were spared. Across Okanagan Crush Pad’s other Summerland vineyards and at Haywire Winery, operations and wines are in good condition.
There is work ahead at Garnet Valley Ranch, but that work is already underway.
Gratitude for the people behind Okanagan Crush Pad
Okanagan Crush Pad extends its sincere thanks to the firefighters, emergency personnel, utility crews, agricultural workers, neighbours and everyone working to protect Summerland and help the community return home safely.
Co-founders Christine Coletta and Steve Lornie also credit the Okanagan Crush Pad team for their extraordinary commitment throughout the emergency.
“We could not do what we do every day without these amazing people by our side,” said Coletta. “They have been pillars of support for Steve and me, and their dedication throughout this experience has been extraordinary.”
For Coletta, the wildfire is also a reminder of the resilience that has come to define the people working in the Okanagan wine and agricultural community.
“Since COVID, our sector has faced challenge after challenge—from facility and road closures to landslides, extreme cold and crop losses,” she said. “And yet we are still standing together. What keeps Steve and me moving forward is the remarkable group of people around us. They are what propel us every day.”
For Okanagan Crush Pad, the focus now turns to recovery: caring for the vineyards, supporting its neighbours and preparing for the season ahead.
Garnet Valley is still standing. So are we.
Supporting affected communities
Wine Growers BC is encouraging those who wish to help consider supporting organizations assisting people affected by the wildfires, including the Community Foundation South Okanagan Similkameen and Mamas for Mamas Okanagan Wildfire Relief. Those looking to assist are also encouraged to check with local emergency and community response centres for current needs and opportunities to help.
“BC wine has always been a close-knit community, and we are already seeing wineries and people across our industry asking what they can do to help,” said Guignard. “Our role is to help turn that goodwill into practical support, stand behind the people and communities directly affected, and make sure our wineries and growers know they will not have to navigate what comes next alone.”
As the immediate emergency response continues, WGBC says it will remain in contact with affected wineries, growers and government partners. Once conditions stabilize, the organization will also work to understand business interruption, vineyard and crop impacts, technical and regulatory needs, and the longer-term recovery support that may be required.
For current information
Wine Growers BC recommends checking the following sources for the latest wildfire, evacuation, road and winery operating information:
- EmergencyInfoBC and the BC Wildfire Service for current wildfire information, evacuation orders and alerts.
- DriveBC for current road and travel conditions.
- Individual winery websites and social media channels for current operating information before travelling.
– with files from Town Hall Brands and Wines of British Columbia
