Farmer loses 70-80% of crop to wildfire just 12 hours before harvest

Summerland, B.C., farmer Chamkaur Saran was on the cusp of harvesting his peach crop when the explosive Bald Range wildfire erupted last weekend. Now, he faces the devastating reality that 70 to 80 percent of his livelihood is gone.

The fire, coupled with strong winds that followed, caused extensive damage, breaking numerous peach trees that will not regrow. The remaining crop lies rotting on the ground, a grim sight for Saran and many other farmers in the Okanagan region who have been hit by consecutive climate-related disasters, including a heat dome in 2021 and a cold snap in 2024.

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After the fire, there was a very strong wind came, but that wind has broken so many trees.

"It's very difficult to survive for the farmers," Saran told Global News. "So we are looking for any support from the government." He is trying to salvage what he can sell, but the future remains uncertain. Summerland Mayor Doug Holmes has echoed Saran's plea, urging Premier David Eby to provide necessary assistance to the struggling agricultural community.

After 32 years dedicated to farming, Saran and his neighbors face the daunting task of starting over, a stark reminder of the vulnerability of agriculture to extreme weather events.

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So we are looking for any support from the government.