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The district of Summerland, British Columbia, declared a state of emergency early Saturday and issued widespread evacuation orders as a fast-moving wildfire swept through western Canada, forcing thousands of residents from their homes.
The out-of-control Bald Range wildfire expanded to roughly 5,000 hectares by Saturday morning, starting about 15 kilometres west of the community.
The blaze triggered severe utility disruption across Summerland, causing power outages and forcing officials to issue a boil water notice. Threatening conditions compelled operators to bypass the local water treatment plant, allowing untreated water into the municipal system.
Hot, dry weather has fuelled dense forest blazes across several Canadian regions this year, including Ontario and Quebec.
International teams from Mexico, Australia, France, and New Zealand have joined the effort, contributing to a response that includes 1,500 personnel deployed in British Columbia alone.
Provincial officials have issued 39 evacuation orders and 49 alerts, though Premier David Eby confirmed that British Columbia maintains sufficient resources with additional national and international crews on standby.
Nationwide, wildfires have scorched 3.9 million hectares so far this year.
