Scenes of wildfires raging in B.C.’s Okanagan and Summerland region
The British Columbia government declared a state of emergency as wildfires burned large swathes of the Okanagan and Summerland region.
The Bald Range wildfire was first reported at 4:29 p.m. Friday, but it grew in size, burning 50 square kilometres in a few hours. By Saturday afternoon, the fire had doubled, growing to 103 square kilometres.
More than 20,000 residents were forced to evacuate Summerland, population 12,000, and other Okanagan Lake communities Friday night and Saturday morning as the wildfire destroyed homes in its path.
About 8,000 more people were ordered to leave their homes Saturday in and around Peachland. By Saturday evening, the evacuation alert extended to the northern edge of Penticton.
On Sunday, about 10,000 homes were under evacuation orders in Summerland, Peachland, the regional districts of Okanagan-Similkameen and Central Okanagan, and the Penticton Indian Band lands. More than 3,300 homes were under evacuation alerts.
The federal government has said it will provide assistance in securing shelter and accommodation for evacuees.
Video by Cole Marten via Reuters.
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