Bald Range wildfire causing heavy financial toll for local businesses

It was supposed to be a weekend of celebration. Businesses in the Southern Interior were set to welcome thousands of people for the height of tourist season – until the deadly Bald Range wildfire sparked.

Ron Kubek, owner of Lightning Rock Winery in Summerland, was one of the lucky ones who did not suffer heavy damage to his business. However, after having been unable to operate the vineyard for nearly two weeks, Kubek says he’s lost thousands of dollars per day in revenue.

“Everybody in Summerland knows one or more people that have lost a property,” he said.

“Agriculture can’t stop… we’re just coming up on harvest, which is supposed to happen in a couple weeks. There’s still a lot of work to be done on the vineyard.”

Kubek says he plans to reopen this weekend but fears for other businesses in and around his community.

“I need a strong Penticton to have a strong Summerland,” he said. 

“Those businesses in west Kelowna or Peachland, we need to support them.”

Michael Magnusson, executive director for the Penticton and Wine Country Chamber of Commerce, says businesses were essentially put on a two-week hold to help evacuees any way they could.

“[They are] basically taking their bottom line and putting it on the back burner for now, and just doing whatever they could to help,” Magnusson said.

“I’d say over the past two weeks… it would not be far off to say 60–75 per cent of revenue was lost.”

On top of that, since many Summerland residents have returned home, Magnusson says it’s left hotels completely empty with nobody to backfill the vacancies.

“Anybody that is connected to the tourism business and visitation is absolutely feeling the crunch now,” he said.

Both Magnusson and Kubek are pleading to British Columbians to support local businesses and are assuring the public that they’re ready to welcome back visitors with open arms.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s a small business or a big business… just support them all,” Kubek said. 

The Bald Range wildfire is still burning out of control, and officials confirm at least 150 properties have been destroyed. While many residents return to a community that’s been reshaped by the blaze, business owners are hoping for any sign of normality.