Canada: British Columbia declares emergency as fires spread

Canadian authorities declared a state of emergency in British Columbia following the rapid spread of a wildfire that forced over 20,000 residents to evacuate. Premier David Eby compared the intensity of the blaze to a bomb going off, describing flames reaching 100 feet on trees and 200 feet above them, along with the fire creating its own weather system that generated lightning.

Homes and properties were destroyed as the fire, which began on Friday, intensified overnight and triggered widespread evacuation orders. By Saturday, the fire had engulfed approximately 9,500 hectares (23,500 acres), leading to the evacuation of all 12,000 residents in the Summerland district. This blaze is one of many challenges faced by emergency crews across British Columbia, who have been battling 70 new wildfires over the past week, with 105 currently active.

Minister of Forests Ravi Parmar reported that fires have scorched 4 million hectares across Canada in 2026. Wildfires have also emerged in several regions, including Ontario and Quebec, this year due to hot, dry conditions that fueled fires in dense forest areas.