Bradley Creek wildfire destroys homes; resident recounts losing everything

Amber Cardenas described the devastating loss of her home and cherished heirlooms to the Bradley Creek wildfire, which swept through the Okanagan Indian Band reserve with alarming speed. She recounted being forced to evacuate on Saturday, expressing frustration over the lack of an official alert and the rapid change in the fire's direction due to shifting winds.

"Clearly the wind shifted and it changed pretty fast," Cardenas said. "And once that wind kind of took it, that fire just like took off, and in a matter of from 9:00 to 10:00, even around 12, it was still like nowhere near our house, but with that wind shift, it was probably within an hour that we found out, and volunteer firefighters were going door to door telling people to leave."

“

Clearly the wind shifted and it changed pretty fast. And once that wind kind of took it, that fire just like took off, and in a matter of from 9:00 to 10:00, even around 12, it was still like nowhere near our house, but with that wind shift, it was probably within an hour that we found out, and volunteer firefighters were going door to door telling people to leave.

Cardenas shared the heartbreak of seeing so many friends and family also lose their homes. "Like, so many structures were lost. So many friends and family, their houses are gone. But it’s a pretty hard reality to accept and live in right now," she said, while expressing gratitude that her family is safe.

Okanagan Indian Band Chief Dan Wilson reported that as many as 230 homes might have been lost to the Bradley Creek wildfire. The blaze, currently mapped at over 2,800 hectares, remains out of control. Cardenas's home was among those completely destroyed.

“

Like, so many structures were lost. So many friends and family, their houses are gone. But it’s a pretty hard reality to accept and live in right now.