State of Emergency Declared in British Columbia as Wildfire Forces Mass Evacuation

A state of emergency was declared in the Canadian province of British Columbia on Saturday as thousands of people were forced to flee a fast-moving wildfire that nearly doubled in size overnight. The Bald Range wildfire was burning out of control, prompting evacuation orders in Summerland, Peachland and other communities west of Okanagan Lake in southern British Columbia.

First reported on Friday west of Summerland, the fire, fanned by strong winds and dry vegetation, raced about 15km toward the lake within hours, growing to more than 100 sq. km. Local officials said the blaze had triggered the largest evacuation event in British Columbia so far this summer, with more than 20,000 people across the province forced to leave their homes.

Videos circulating online showed flames burning alongside a highway and structures engulfed in fire, while aircraft could be seen circling a towering column of smoke above forests near Summerland as crews battled the blaze from the air. Other footage showed thick smoke billowing over hillsides near residential areas and long lines of traffic as residents fled the area.

British Columbia Premier David Eby has told journalists the fire had caused significant property losses and that some residents had become trapped as the flames advanced rapidly. Fire behavior specialist Ben Bergin said the area had experienced three days of exceptionally hot and dry weather under a high-pressure system that had also kept smoke close to the ground. Bergin added that stronger winds were expected to exacerbate fire conditions, with winds shifting to the west and pushing the fire eastward. He added that containment measures and a fuel break were already in place on the eastern side of the blaze.

Ground crews, structural protection units, helicopters, and heavy air-tankers were deployed to battle the fire, with the BC Wildfire Service mounting an aerial and ground response as crews worked to slow its spread, according to local officials. Hot and dry conditions have raised the risk of further fires spreading across British Columbia. The province has issued 40 evacuation orders and 49 evacuation alerts.

Wildfires have burned about 9.9 million acres (40,000 square kilometers) across the country so far this year, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre.