British Columbia declares state of emergency as Bald Range wildfire forces over 20,000 evacuations
A rapidly expanding wildfire in the Bald Range prompted British Columbia to declare a state of emergency, leading to the largest evacuation of the summer with more than 20,000 residents displaced.
British Columbia declared a state of emergency on Saturday after the Bald Range wildfire surged to roughly 9,500 hectares, prompting evacuation orders for communities including Summerland and Peachland in the province's southern interior. The fire, described by Premier David Eby as comparable to a bomb going off, generated its own weather system, producing lightning that further intensified the blaze.
The emergency declaration gives the provincial government powers to impose travel restrictions, protect supplies from price gouging and coordinate rescue operations. Officials said the incident triggered the largest evacuation event of the summer, with more than 20,000 people forced to leave their homes.
Mayor Doug Holmes of Summerland warned that many farms were affected and the full extent of structural losses remained unknown. Residents fled overnight, heading south to Penticton or north to Kelowna before highway closures began.
Power outages and a boil-water notice were issued in Summerland after untreated water entered the system. Across British Columbia, about 1,500 firefighters are battling over 100 fires, while international crews from Mexico, Australia, France and New Zealand assist in the effort. The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre reports that fires have burned approximately 4 million hectares nationwide this year.