Canadian wildfire doubles in size as thousands flee

More than 20,000 people have fled a fast-moving wildfire in western Canada, which has nearly doubled in size overnight. The province of British Columbia declared a state of emergency over the blaze on Saturday.

The Bald Range wildfire, named after the area it started, has grown to 9,500 hectares, an area roughly the size of Paris, prompting evacuation orders in Canada’s second largest wine producing area.

Homes have been destroyed and police investigating reports of a possible death said their work had been hampered by hazardous conditions, Canadian newspaper The Vancouver Sun reported. 

Leader of British Columbia, David Eby, told a news conference on Saturday that one fire official had likened the fire to "a bomb going off."

"He described flames on 100-foot tree, flames going 200 feet above that, and the fire creating its own weather system, which creates lightning, which then feeds on itself," Eby said.

"Homes have been lost, and properties have been destroyed. Some people became trapped as conditions changed very quickly, and needed to be rescued," he added.

Firefighters deployed across British Columbia

Hot and dry conditions have increased the risk of new fires across British Columbia, while lightning could also ignite so-called holdover fires that can smoulder before becoming active.

About 1,500 firefighting personnel have been deployed across the province.

Authorities have issued 39 evacuation orders and 49 evacuation alerts as crews work to contain fires in several areas.

Local authorities also issued a boil water notice after untreated water entered the system when the water treatment plant was bypassed because of the wildfire threat.

British Columbia Premier David Eby said earlier this week that the province had sufficient resources and was prepared to call on additional Canadian and international firefighters and aircraft if needed.

Wildfires burn millions of hectares across Canada

Several parts of Canada, including Ontario and Quebec, have also battled wildfires this year as hot and dry weather fuelled blazes in densely forested areas.

Canada has received assistance from Mexico, Australia, France and New Zealand to help fight the fires.

Wildfires have burned through 3.9 million hectares across Canada so far this year, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre.

Read more about wildfires:

• Spokane wildfires contained as firefighters prepare for heat return
• Washington wildfires force 64,000 evacuations near Spokane
• France’s record wildfires expose climate risks and political fault lines

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News wildfire emergency British Columbia Climate and Environment