Sept. 8, 2026 — KELOWNA, B.C. — When wildfire season hits British Columbia and Alberta, the call for help doesn’t always come with much warning. Sometimes it arrives within an hour of a fire starting, when it’s already moving too fast to track or predict.
That was the situation that Ebus and Red Arrow drivers and crews from Keolis Canada faced this summer in B.C., when the Bald Range wildfire threatened the Faulder–Summerland area and forced the evacuation of care homes, hospitals and homes in Summerland and Penticton.
“The fire had only been started for an hour and was moving rapidly,” said an Operations Manager based in Prince George.
As the team pulled up the fire map to plan next steps, the situation shifted in real time: in the span of just five minutes, the fire had moved from just outside the evacuation alert area into the notification area, quickly advancing closer to town. With no time to finalize a full plan, every available unit across the network was activated and not even the crews knew where they’d be taking evacuees.
“Behind the wheel when it mattered”
Among the drivers who answered the call was Colin George Miranda, who normally drives the Red Arrow route between Kelowna and Vancouver. When the mobilization call went out, he didn’t hesitate.
“I knew I wanted to be part of it,” Miranda said.
At 10 p.m. on August 8, Miranda swapped his Red Arrow motorcoach for a Northern Health unit, built to transport seniors and individuals with mobility issues, and set out from the Kelowna yard toward Penticton. Wildfire-related road closures turned what should have been a trip of under an hour into a five-hour journey through a series of detours. He arrived at close to 3 a.m.
Upon arrival, there was no time to rest. Miranda and other crews began moving patients and residents between Penticton Regional Hospital and the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre, while also helping to evacuate others to Kelowna and other designated safe zones. Miranda and the other mobilized drivers assisted passengers in loading and unloading wheelchairs, walkers and passengers with limited mobility.
“Some of them couldn’t speak out [about] how grateful they were,” Miranda said. “But when you looked at them, or they gave you a handshake, patted you on the shoulder, or simply held your hand, you knew how important that work was.”
The days that followed brought numerous trips along the same detour-heavy route between Kelowna and Penticton. During the in-between moments, Miranda stayed on standby, keeping his bus fuelled and ready to activate at a moment’s notice.
“Proud to have been behind the wheel when it mattered,” he said.
Showing Up When It Counts
By the time the evacuations were winding down, seniors, medically vulnerable patients and full families had been moved out of harm’s way, many being given only hours of notice before their community became unrecognizable.
Behind every driver on the road was a team of Ebus and Red Arrow dispatchers, planners and managers coordinating units across the network in real time, making sure that no one was left behind.
“It was exhausting,” he said, “but it was also one of those moments when you realize that driving a bus can mean so much more than getting passengers from A to B. You’re not just getting passengers to their destination. You’re moving people to safety, giving families peace of mind, and helping your community when it needs you most.”
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About Red Arrow
Red Arrow is Alberta’s premium intercity motorcoach service, offering scheduled routes between Edmonton, Calgary, Fort McMurray, Lethbridge and other communities. Known for its onboard amenities, including free wi-fi, complimentary refreshments and single seating, punctual service, and professional experience, Red Arrow has served business and leisure travellers for over 40 years.
About Ebus
Ebus provides affordable scheduled intercity coach service across Alberta and British Columbia, connecting communities across the region with a focus on accessibility, reliability, and affordability.
Media Contact:
Ted Flitton
Marketing & Sales Manager
Keolis Canada
+1 (403) 614-6696
ted.flitton@keolis.ca
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