Canada wildfire: British Columbia declares state of emergency, forcing thousands to evacuate amid raging fire

On Saturday, British Columbia's provincial government declared a state of emergency as a fast-moving wildfire rapidly expanded near Okanagan Lake. The Bald Range fire, which had already doubled in size overnight, grew to approximately 9,500 hectares, prompting evacuation orders in Summerland, Peachland, and surrounding areas. The region, known for its vineyards, is the second-largest wine producer in Canada.

This was the largest evacuation event witnessed this summer, with over 20,000 people across the province ordered to leave their homes. Summerland, home to about 12,000 people, lost power and issued a boil-water notice for residents. Mayor Doug Holmes warned that many farms had been affected and that the extent of property losses remained unknown.

Premier David Eby described the fire as "a bomb going off," emphasizing the rapid evolution of the blaze, which created its own weather system, generating lightning that fueled the fire. As the wildfire intensified, residents were forced to evacuate, some traveling up to 45 kilometers to reach safety. The situation remains dynamic and threatening, with 1,500 firefighters working to contain over 100 active blazes in British Columbia. The province has also issued 40 evacuation orders and 49 evacuation alerts.