A state of emergency has been declared in British Columbia after a fast-moving wildfire doubled in size since its detection on Friday. It has forced more than 20,000 people to evacuate their homes across multiple districts in western Canada.
The Bald Range fire now covers more than 39 square miles across the Summerland, Peachland and surrounding districts. British Columbia Premier David Eby described the fire’s behaviour as extraordinary. Also saying one fire official had likened it to “a bomb going off.”
The flames had grown so intense that they were generating their own weather systems, producing lightning that further complicated firefighting efforts.
“Homes have been lost, and properties have been destroyed,” Eby said.
“Some people became trapped as conditions changed very quickly, and needed to be rescued.”
Summerland, home to around 12,000 residents, and Peachland, with a population of approximately 6,500, were among the hardest-hit communities. Evacuation orders were also issued across the districts of Okanagan, Okanagan-Similkameen, and surrounding areas. Hundreds of residents from Summerland care facilities, including senior housing, were relocated to safer areas by Interior Health, British Columbia’s publicly funded health authority.
Summerland Mayor Doug Holmes told Reuters the full extent of damage to structures remained unclear.
“A lot of farms have been affected. We don’t know how many structures have been lost,” he said.
“We have to brace ourselves for the worst.”
Effects Extended to Animals
The human dimension of the evacuation extended to animals. In Okanagan, residents struggled to move horses and other livestock ahead of the advancing fire. Those unable to transport their animals opened gates in the hope the animals would find their own way to safety. Some owners painted identifying markings on their livestock to help track them down later.
The Bald Range wildfire represents the largest evacuation event of the Canadian summer. It comes after nearly 200 fires burned across Ontario in July alone, sending air quality in Toronto to among the worst recorded in the world for several days.
Smoke from those fires drifted south into parts of the United States, including Minnesota and New York. This prompted President Donald Trump to threaten new tariffs against Canada.
The state of emergency grants the provincial government expanded powers including travel restrictions, supply protections against price gouging, and additional resources to coordinate ongoing rescue operations.
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