Homes lost as fast-moving BC wildfire explodes in size, forcing mass evacuations

International

HOMES have been lost, thousands have fled, and a fast-moving wildfire in British Columbia continues to spread rapidly, prompting officials to declare a state of emergency.

The Bald Range fire, first detected on Friday, has more than doubled in size and now covers over 53 sq miles (136 sq km) across Summerland, Peachland and surrounding areas, according to the BC Wildfire Service.

According to a BBC report, more than 20,000 people across British Columbia have evacuated their homes in what officials say is the largest evacuation event of the summer.

The blaze has intensified enough to generate its own weather systems, including lightning, further complicating efforts to contain it.

Summerland Mayor Doug Holmes urged residents to prepare for worsening conditions, telling Reuters, “We have to brace ourselves for the worst.”

The entire Summerland area has been ordered to evacuate, along with residents in nearby communities.

For many residents, the fire advanced with little warning, leaving people scrambling to escape as flames approached homes and neighbourhoods. Some remain unable to return and are anxiously awaiting updates on whether their homes survived, while reports of destroyed properties have deepened fears.

At a news conference on Saturday, British Columbia Premier David Eby said a fire official compared the blaze to “a bomb going off”, adding that some residents became trapped as conditions changed rapidly and required rescue.

Summerland, home to about 12,000 people, has been among the hardest hit. Evacuation orders have also been issued for parts of Peachland, which has about 6,500 residents.

For many Peachland residents, the evacuation marked the first time they had been forced to leave their homes after years of wildfire alerts. Some described clear skies quickly turning hazy as smoke thickened and flames became visible near their communities.

Evacuation orders have been issued across the Central Okanagan and Okanagan-Similkameen regional districts, as well as the Snpink’tn Indian Band, Summerland and Peachland.

Hundreds of residents in Summerland care facilities, including senior housing, have also been moved to safer locations.

The full extent of the destruction remains unclear as officials assess how many structures have been lost, with farms among the properties affected and firefighters still working to contain the blaze.

Evacuations have also been complicated by efforts to move livestock and pets out of danger, with residents struggling to evacuate horses and other animals.

The state of emergency gives provincial authorities additional powers and resources to coordinate the response.

The Bald Range fire is part of a wider wildfire crisis across Canada, with hundreds of active blazes reported nationwide. Firefighters continue to battle the blaze as evacuated residents wait for updates on their homes and the scale of the damage.(MyTVCebu)