British Columbia declared a state of emergency on Saturday following a fast-moving wildfire that destroyed homes and compelled more than 20,000 individuals to leave communities near Okanagan Lake in western Canada; dozens were rescued by aircraft.
Premier David Eby announced the emergency as over 100 wildfires burned across the province, with nearly half being out of control due to hot, windy weather and prolonged drought. Thousands fled on congested roads as officials cautioned that "explosive" conditions could endanger additional communities.
Summerland, which has approximately 12,000 residents, was ordered evacuated overnight, along with about 8,000 people in and around nearby Peachland. Eby’s office confirmed "significant structure loss" but stated officials could not yet assess the damage because the area remained an active fire zone.
The rapid progression of the fire caused even emergency personnel to evacuate. Erick Thompson, an emergency official with the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen, reported having to abandon the emergency operations center and evacuate his family.
“I had to leave the EOC to come and get my family to leave this area. We’re heading south,” he stated in a video posted early Saturday from inside his vehicle as traffic accumulated around him.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police are investigating a potential wildfire fatality near Summerland, but hazardous conditions have prevented authorities from confirming the death.
Eby noted that some residents were trapped as the fire advanced, while search-and-rescue crews continued searching for others who might have been caught. British Columbia Forests Minister Ravi Parmar reported that 18 firefighting aircraft rescued over 50 people.
“People have lost their homes. And many people have been displaced,” Eby said.
The Bald Range wildfire, first reported Friday evening, expanded to more than 100 square kilometers (39 square miles) as it advanced roughly 15 kilometers (9 miles) toward Okanagan Lake within hours.
A British Columbia Wildfire Service perimeter map indicated the fire had burned through areas containing numerous homes north of Summerland and reached Okanagan Lake. Social media videos appeared to show homes burning as residents fled along roads with flames visible on both sides.
Eby described the sudden growth as "a remarkable escalation in fire activity," adding that the blaze became so intense it generated its own weather system and lightning.
Cliff Chapman, director of operations for the British Columbia Wildfire Service, characterized conditions as "explosive" and warned that other communities could face similarly fast-moving fires.
British Columbia Emergency Management Minister Kelly Greene stated that the state of emergency grants the province extra powers, including the authority to restrict travel and secure accommodations for evacuees that might otherwise be unavailable.
Highway 97, a major regional route, was closed between Peachland and Penticton as roads became filled with evacuees.
Canada has experienced increasingly destructive wildfire seasons in recent years, leading to mass evacuations and repeatedly sending smoke across large sections of Canada and the United States.
At an evacuation center in Penticton, Summerland resident Anette Boulet said the approaching fire "looked like doomsday." She fled before dawn with her family and five dogs, uncertain if her home remained standing.