British Columbia declares emergency as 20,000 flee wildfire
The fast-moving Bald Range wildfire grew to about 9,500 hectares, destroyed homes and forced evacuations around Summerland and Peachland.
British Columbia declared a province-wide state of emergency on Saturday (August 8) after the fast-moving Bald Range wildfire destroyed homes and forced more than 20,000 people to evacuate communities in western Canada.
The fire, first reported on Friday evening, nearly doubled in size overnight and spread across about 9,500 hectares while remaining out of control. Evacuation orders covered Summerland, home to about 12,000 people, and roughly 8,000 residents in and around neighbouring Peachland.
Premier David Eby confirmed significant losses of homes and other property but said the extent of the damage could not yet be assessed while the area remained an active fire zone.
Some residents became trapped as conditions changed rapidly, prompting rescuers to use aircraft to reach people isolated behind the fire perimeter.
Bald Range fire spreads rapidly towards communities
The Bald Range fire originated about 15 kilometres west of Summerland before racing towards communities around Okanagan Lake.
Emergency alerts ordered residents in Summerland, Faulder and several areas south of Peachland to leave immediately, warning that the fire posed a significant risk to life. Sections of Highway 97 were also closed as authorities directed evacuees towards reception centres in Penticton and West Kelowna.
Cliff Chapman, director of wildfire operations for the BC Wildfire Service, described conditions across the province as “explosive”, warning that similarly rapid fire growth could threaten other communities.
Hot, windy weather and prolonged drought helped drive the blaze, which became intense enough to generate its own weather system and lightning.
The provincial state of emergency gives the government additional powers to restrict travel, manage affected areas, secure accommodation for evacuees and coordinate rescue operations and essential supplies.
International crews support firefighting effort
More than 100 wildfires were burning across British Columbia, with nearly half classified as out of control.
About 1,500 firefighting personnel were deployed across the province, supported by international teams from Mexico, Australia, France and New Zealand.
The province had issued dozens of evacuation orders and alerts as officials prepared for the possibility of further rapid fire growth. The Bald Range blaze has triggered British Columbia’s largest evacuation operation of the summer.
