Fast-moving Canada wildfire doubles in size forcing thousands to flee homes

A wildfire in western Canada has rapidly expanded, prompting thousands to evacuate their homes. The Bald Range fire, located in remote areas of British Columbia, has more than doubled in size since its discovery on Friday, now covering over 36 square miles in the Summerland and Okanagan-Similkameen districts. Emergency officials described it as one of the quickest-moving and largest fires they've witnessed in the region, despite its control status as of Saturday morning.

The town of Summerland, home to around 12,000 residents, was ordered to evacuate, and power was cut off across the area. Numerous care facilities, including senior housing, were evacuated, with residents relocated to safer locations. First responders, wildfire service crews, and police officers worked around the clock to ensure public safety and combat the blaze.

The extent of destroyed structures within the fire remains uncertain. Neighboring districts of Okanagan, Peachland, and Okanagan-Similkameen also issued evacuation orders and alerts. On Friday, Erick Thompson, an official with the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen, gave updates from the Okanagan-Similkameen emergency operations center, ultimately leaving to protect his family.

In Okanagan, many horse owners struggled to evacuate their animals, leaving gates open for them to find safety. Smoke from Canadian wildfires has drifted into parts of the US, causing severe air quality issues in Toronto and prompting US President Donald Trump to threaten new tariffs on Canada.