Over 20,000 flee wildfires as British Columbia declares state of emergency
The fires that erupted on Friday spread rapidly, nearly doubling in size overnight into Saturday. National police are investigating a possible death near Summerland, although the casualty has not yet been confirmed.
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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