Greg Gabriel

Penticton Indian Band Chief Greg Gabriel says work needs to be done to mitigate conditions contributing to the Bald Range wildfire west of Summerland. During a news conference Wednesday including B.C. Premier David Eby, Gabriel noted officials need to work with First Nations on solutions, as the PIB remains on evacuation. “We have fires to the north of us, fires to the south of us, fires to the west of us,” Gabriel said. “The amount of devastation and the volatility of those fires is something that we now need to recognize: our world is changing at a rapid pace. You look at other countries; what they experience, similar to what we’re experiencing here in BC.” The PIB chief noted that the Okanagan basin is currently dealing with Drought Level 5, providing the conditions for the current State of Emergency in B.C. and devastation in and around Summerland, including PIB lands.