Wildfires: British Columbia declares state of emergency, thousands forced to flee homes

Canada’s British Columbia has declared a state of emergency as a fast-moving wildfire forced more than 20,000 people to evacuate overnight. Officials say strong winds helped the flames spread rapidly, with significant challenges still remaining to bring the blaze under control. Simon Moritz has the latest.

British Columbia has declared a state of emergency after tens of thousands were ordered to flee a fast-moving wildfire that nearly doubled in size overnight. The Bald Range wildfire rapidly grew to about 9,500 hectares (23,500 acres), prompting evacuation orders in Summerland, Peachland and other districts west of Okan

More than 20,000 people have been forced from their homes by out-of-control wildfires in Canada's British Columbia, where 105 blazes are currently burning.

British Columbia declared a state of emergency Saturday after thousands of people in the western Canadian province were ordered to flee a fast-moving wildfire that nearly doubled in size overnight. The Bald Range wildfire was burning out of ‌control and grew rapidly to about 9,500 hectares, prompting evacuation orders

Winds fanned the Bald Range wildfire to grow rapidly late Friday, pushing flames into the Summerland area and affecting communities throughout the surrounding valleys.

The region produces most of British Columbia's wine and ​is Canada's second-largest wine-producing area.

Thousands of people were ordered to evacuate their homes as a massive wildfire doubled in size overnight and spread through Canada on Saturday.

British Columbia declares state of emergency as more than 20,000 flee wildfires  Reuters

B.C. declares state of emergency as wildfire expands and thousands are evacuated  Toronto Star

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.

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

British Columbia has declared a provincial state of emergency as wildfires burned across western Canada, forcing thousands of residents to leave their homes as firefighters continued to fight the blazes.

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.

Wildfire activity has increased in British Columbia, with thousands evacuated from the Okanagan Valley, weeks after smoke from blazes in Ontario choked the East Coast.

TORONTO, Aug 8 - 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.