British Columbia district declares state of emergency as Bald Range wildfire spreads

15:45

By: Sahili Aya

British Columbia district declares state of emergency as Bald Range wildfire spreads

Authorities in British Columbia declared a state of emergency in the district of Summerland early Saturday as the fast-moving Bald Range wildfire continued to spread across western Canada, prompting thousands of residents to leave their homes.

The blaze was reported to be burning out of control and had expanded to approximately 5,000 hectares by early Saturday, according to the BC Wildfire Service.

Evacuations ordered as fire advances

The wildfire has triggered evacuation orders affecting communities in several regional districts, with residents being forced to leave areas threatened by the advancing flames.

The declaration in Summerland reflects the seriousness of the situation as emergency authorities work to protect residents and limit the fire's spread.

The blaze began approximately 15 kilometres west of Summerland, according to the BC Wildfire Service.

Helicopters used in tactical evacuations

The wildfire has also led authorities to carry out tactical evacuations by helicopter in areas where rapidly changing conditions make conventional evacuation routes difficult to use.

Smoke from the Bald Range fire has spread across the surrounding area as firefighters confront a blaze that continues to grow.

The scale and speed of the fire have increased pressure on emergency services responding to the situation.

Thousands affected by wildfire

The evacuation orders represent a major disruption for residents in the affected parts of British Columbia, with thousands of people instructed to leave their homes.

Officials are continuing to assess the fire's behaviour and the risks to nearby communities as firefighting operations continue.

The emergency declaration gives local authorities additional tools to coordinate their response while the wildfire remains out of control.