On August 7, 2026, a wildfire sparked approximately 15 kilometers west of the District of Summerland and near the unincorporated community of Faulder within Electoral Area "F".

As of September 17, 2026, per the BC Wildfire Service, the size of the fire was mapped at approximately 25,163.2 hectares. 

The wildfire greatly affected the communities of Faulder and Meadow Valley, with 110 structures having been either damaged or destroyed as a result of the fire. 

Environmentally Sensitive Development Permit (ESDP) Area Designation

Within the area affectd by the wildfire, approximately 124 parcels (representing approximately 1,170 ha of land; most of which being located within or in immediate vicinity to Faulder) are located within Environmentally Sensitive Development Permit (ESDP) Areas designated under the Electoral Area "F" Official Community Plan (OCP) Bylaw No. 2790, 2018. This designation applies to lands which have identified environmental values. 

The purpose of the ESDP Area designation is to protect "the natural environment, its ecosystems and biological diversity", and the justification of the designation is to "regulate development activities within environmentally sensitive areas in order to protect important sensitive ecosystems and biological diversity including valuable habitat for endangered species of native, rare vegetation or wild, and provide wildlife corridors and secondary habitat.".

Environmentally Sensitive Development Permit (ESDP) Requirements

In accordance with Section 489 of the Local Government Act, the Electoral Area "F" OCP Bylaw sets out that, unless otherwise exempt, a development permit is required for the development of land within an ESDP Area, including:

• subdivision;
• the construction of, addition to or alteration of a building or other structure; and,
• alteration of the land, including grading, removal or vegetation, deposit or moving of soil, paving, installation of drainage or underground services.

The ESDP application process requires property owners to contract and engage with a Qualified Environmental Professional (QEP) (i.e., a Registered Professional Biologist in BC (RPBio)) to draft either an Environmental Assessment or Rapid Environmental Assessment to assess the environmental values on their property as pertains to their development proposal.

Where an ESDP is required, it must be issued prior to a building permit being able to be issued.

It is being proposed to amend the Electoral Area "F" OCP Bylaw by removing the ESDP Area designation from all parcels within the area of the Bald Range Wildfire.

If the amendment bylaw is adopted, development of properties currently designated as ESDP Area within the affected area of the Bald Range Wildfire in Electoral Area "F" would no longer be subject to the requirement to obtain an ESDP prior to the issuance of a building permit.