British Columbia to get federal assistance as wildfire forces evacuations

TORONTO, Aug 9 - The Canadian federal government said on Sunday it would assist British Columbia as raging wildfires forced thousands of people to evacuate by providing shelter and accommodation for residents displaced in regions around Summerland and Peachland.

Blaze forces mass evacuations as fire spreadsBritish Columbia declared a state of emergency on Saturday as a fast-moving wildfire nearly doubled in size overnight, forcing thousands of residents in the western Canadian province to evacuate their homes.The Bald Range wildfire was burning out of control after rapidly exp

Premier David Eby announced the emergency as more than 100 wildfires burned across the province, nearly half of them out of control in hot, windy weather and prolonged drought.

The Bald Range fire has burned more than 25,000 acres in British Columbia. At one point, the fire spread more than 2,000 acres in about an hour, officials said.

British Columbia has declared a state of emergency as a fast-moving wildfire forced more than 20,000 people from communities in western Canada, destroying homes as it raced toward towns along Okanagan Lake

Wildfires force 20,000 to flee as British Columbia declares state of emergency  AP News

CANADA-WILDFIRES:British Columbia district declares state of emergency, issues evacuation orders as wildfire rages

A state of emergency was declared by the district of Summerland, British Columbia, early Saturday as a fast-moving wildfire ​swept through western Canada, forcing thousands of residents to ‌evacuate their homes.

Authorities warn residents to be prepared to leave their homes as fast-moving wildfires spread across western Canada.

British Columbia district declares state of emergency, issues evacuation orders as wildfire rages  Reuters

A statement from the region’s emergency management centre says officials are aware some residents have chosen to stay behind, despite orders covering more than 2,600 properties on the west side of Okanagan Lake.

Officials urging British Columbia residents to obey wildfire evacuation orders  Toronto Star

The organization (COEM) said it has become aware that some residents remained behind and said that an evacuation order is not a suggestion; it is a life-safety measure.