Canada: British Columbia wildfires burning out of control
Wildfires have grown in number and intensity across British Columbia, where a state of emergency has been declared. Evacuations are underway, but firefighters say almost half of BC's 102 fires are out of control.
Wildfires in British Columbia, Canada, have been spreading rapidly, causing significant damage and prompting a state of emergency. By Sunday morning, there were 102 active fires in the province, with nearly half deemed out of control. Extreme fire behavior was observed in southern British Columbia due to hot and dry conditions, complicating firefighting efforts with poor visibility.
The Bald Range fire, which erupted on Saturday and engulfed Summerland, a town of 12,000 residents, had burned through 10,341 hectares by early Sunday. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is investigating a possible fatality. Prime Minister David Eby warned of the unpredictable nature of the blaze and announced air evacuations for those trapped by the fire.
As of now, over 20,000 individuals have been forced to evacuate their homes. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed gratitude to the firefighters and first responders for their tireless efforts and pledged federal support, emphasizing solidarity with the affected communities.
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Also reported by 5 other outlets
- Fires grip western U.S., British Columbia: "It doesn't seem like it's real" cbsnews.com
- Over 20,000 flee wildfires as British Columbia declares state of emergency euronews.com
- Canada: British Columbia wildfires burning out of control dw.com
- Canada’s British Columbia declares emergency over spreading wildfires qatar-tribune.com
- Crews battle wildfires in western U.S. and Canada npr.org
