VICTORIA — British Columbia declared a state of provincial emergency on Saturday as a fast-moving wildfire in the southern Okanagan region destroyed homes, triggered large-scale evacuations and forced more than 20,000 people from their communities.
Premier David Eby said the province had declared the emergency after the Bald Range wildfire, first reported Friday evening, expanded rapidly as winds intensified and pushed toward Summerland and surrounding communities. The declaration gives provincial authorities additional powers to coordinate the response, including measures affecting travel and accommodation for evacuees.
By Saturday, the fire had grown to about 9,500 hectares, according to provincial officials, prompting evacuation orders covering Summerland, a community of about 12,000 people, as well as thousands of residents in nearby areas. Highway 97 was closed between Peachland and Penticton as emergency officials managed the evacuation.
Eby said homes and other property had been lost and that some people became trapped as conditions changed rapidly. He said air evacuations were underway for people isolated by the fire and that emergency officials were coordinating rescue and firefighting resources.
“The Bald Range fire remains extremely active and significant challenges remain,” Eby said in a statement on Saturday.
British Columbia Forests Minister Ravi Parmar said 18 firefighting aircraft had rescued more than 50 people, according to the Associated Press. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said it was investigating a possible wildfire death near Summerland but that dangerous conditions had prevented authorities from confirming a fatality.
The Bald Range fire is among more than 100 wildfires burning across British Columbia. Parmar said the province had recorded 70 new wildfires during the preceding week, with 105 fires burning as of Saturday. Nearly half were reported to be out of control.
Cliff Chapman, director of operations for the British Columbia Wildfire Service, described the conditions as “explosive” and warned that other communities could face similarly rapid fire growth.
The provincial government had warned earlier in the summer that prolonged drought and elevated temperatures were increasing wildfire risks in several regions, including the Okanagan and southern Interior.
The state of emergency took effect as evacuation and rescue operations continued across the Okanagan. Provincial authorities urged residents under evacuation orders to leave immediately and follow directions from local emergency officials as crews worked to protect people and communities.
