3 weeks ago
British Columbia Declares State of Emergency as Wildfire Forces Evacuations
A huge wildfire called the Bald Range fire started near a town called Summerland in British Columbia, Canada.
The fire grew almost twice as big while people slept, and more than 20,000 people had to leave their homes.
Some homes and farms were burned, and some people had to be rescued.
The town of Summerland lost electricity, and people were told to boil their water before drinking it.
The fire was so powerful that it made its own weather and created lightning.
About 1,500 firefighters are working across British Columbia to stop the fires.
Firefighters from Mexico, Australia, France and New Zealand came to help.
The leader of British Columbia, David Eby, said a fire official described the flames as being like a bomb going off, with fire shooting 200 feet above 100-foot trees.
Hot and dry weather made the fire spread very fast, and the area burned is one of Canada's biggest wine-growing regions.
British Columbia declared a state of emergency on Saturday after the out-of-control Bald Range wildfire forced more than 20,000 people to evacuate across the province.
The blaze, burning west of Okanagan Lake, nearly doubled in size overnight to about 9,500 hectares (23,500 acres), according to Reuters, after BC Wildfire Service reported around 5,000 hectares by Saturday morning.
Evacuation orders affected Summerland, Peachland and other districts, with the province issuing 40 evacuation orders and 49 alerts (one report said 39); homes and properties were destroyed and some people needed rescue.
Summerland lost power and issued a boil-water notice after untreated water entered the municipal system when the water treatment plant was bypassed because of the fire threat.
About 1,500 firefighters are battling more than 100 fires in B.C., and wildfires have burned roughly 3.9-4 million hectares across Canada this year, with help from Mexico, Australia, France and New Zealand.
- Who
- Residents of Summerland, Peachland and other communities in British Columbia, along with about 1,500 firefighters, Premier David Eby and Summerland Mayor Doug Holmes.
- What
- British Columbia declared a state of emergency as the out-of-control Bald Range wildfire forced more than 20,000 people to evacuate and destroyed homes and properties.
- Where
- West of Okanagan Lake in British Columbia's southern interior; the fire started about 15 km west of Summerland and about 45 km from Kelowna.
- When
- On Saturday, August 8, after the fire nearly doubled in size overnight and evacuation orders were issued around midnight.
- Why
- Hot and dry conditions fueled the fast-moving wildfire, which threatened communities and disrupted power and water systems.
Key facts
- Wildfire
- Bald Range
- Size
- About 9,500 hectares (23,500 acres), up from about 5,000 hectares Saturday morning
- Evacuees
- More than 20,000 across British Columbia
- Evacuation measures
- 40 evacuation orders and 49 alerts (one report said 39)
- Firefighters deployed
- About 1,500 battling more than 100 fires in B.C.
- Water advisory
- Boil-water notice in Summerland after untreated water entered the system
- Summerland population
- About 12,000 (2021 census); Peachland about 6,500
- Canada-wide burn area
- About 3.9-4 million hectares so far this year (Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre)
Quotes
Summerland Mayor Doug Holmes
Mayor of Summerland
“He described flames on a 100‑foot tree, flames going 200 feet above that, and the fire creating its own weather system, which creates lightning, which then feeds on itself. Homes have been lost, and properties have been destroyed. Some people became trapped as conditions changed very quickly, and needed to be rescued.”
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“A lot of farms have been affected. We don't know how many structures have been lost. They're still busy fighting the fire. We have to brace ourselves for the worst.”
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Terry Fries
Resident of Summerland
“At the time, it was still farther back, and you could see it behind the hills. He said that after authorities issued an evacuation order around midnight, he and his family travelled approximately 45 km north to Kelowna.”
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Sources
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