British Columbia wildfires force about 22,000 people to flee as federal aid is approved

British Columbia is facing a fast-moving wildfire emergency that has forced about 22,000 people to leave their homes, with evacuations widening across the province. The fires have spread across multiple communities, including Summerland and Peachland, as firefighters struggle to contain several fronts at once. Officials say the situation has developed rapidly, with one major blaze expanding to more than 100 square kilometres within hours.

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The BC Wildfire Service said 102 wildfires were burning across the province on Sunday, and nearly half were classified as out of control. Of those fires, 78 started in the past week, underscoring how quickly the situation has escalated. The Bald Range wildfire was first detected late on Friday evening and then raced nearly 15 kilometres toward Okanagan Lake.

Provincial officials said the fire's speed has made suppression efforts difficult and has left little time for residents to prepare. The entire community of Summerland, about 50 kilometres south-west of Kelowna and home to roughly 12,000 people, was evacuated overnight on Saturday. A further 8,000 people around nearby Peachland were also ordered to leave, while about 10,000 others were told to be ready to evacuate at a moment's notice.

British Columbia's premier, David Eby, declared a state of emergency late on Saturday. He described the blaze as being "like a bomb going off," reflecting the scale and speed of the fire's spread. The federal government has now approved urgent assistance for the province, focused on shelter and accommodation for displaced residents.

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Eleanor Olszewski, Canada's minister of emergency management and community resilience, said federal officials would work with the province through the government operations centre at Public Safety Canada to make sure support reaches those who need it most. The response highlights the strain on provincial resources as communities are evacuated and emergency shelters are needed at short notice. The fires are unfolding during a period of prolonged hot and dry weather, which Cliff Chapman, director of provincial operations for the BC Wildfire Service, said has created "explosive" conditions.

He said the province has not seen fire behaviour like this before. Thunderstorms forecast for the week could worsen the situation if lightning ignites additional blazes, adding to the challenge for crews already stretched across the province. The rapid spread also raises concerns about further evacuations if winds or dry conditions intensify.

What remains unclear is how many of the fires can be brought under control in the coming days and whether more communities will need to evacuate. Officials have not said how long displaced residents may be away from home, and the full damage from the Bald Range wildfire is still being assessed. The immediate focus is on shelter, accommodation and firefighting resources, while authorities continue to monitor the weather and the movement of the largest blazes.

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