Canada has placed its military on standby to aid in combating destructive wildfires in British Columbia, a province grappling with widespread evacuations and the confirmed death of one resident. The blazes have forced approximately 20,000 people to flee their homes.
Scores of uncontrolled wildfires have been burning across British Columbia for days, exacerbated by hot, windy conditions and prolonged drought. The situation has prompted officials to warn that more communities could be threatened.
The mayor of Summerland, a community of about 12,000 people, described the destruction wrought by one of the blazes, the Bald Range wildfire, as significant. Summerland and the nearby community of Peachland, along with surrounding areas, were ordered evacuated over the weekend. Mayor Doug Holmes cautioned that residents should prepare for difficult news regarding property loss upon their eventual return.
The Bald Range wildfire had grown to approximately 60 square miles (156 square kilometers) by Monday, according to the British Columbia Wildfire Service. Officials noted that clearer skies and direct sunlight could intensify fire activity. The fire, which started Friday evening, advanced rapidly, overwhelming roadways and forcing emergency evacuations.
An 80-year-old woman died while attempting to escape the fire near Summerland, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney confirmed. The federal government has approved provincial requests for assistance with shelter and accommodations, and Defense Minister David McGuinty stated that the Canadian Armed Forces are prepared to deploy if formally requested.
Approximately 10,000 homes remained under evacuation orders in Summerland, Peachland, and surrounding areas on Monday, with over 3,200 additional homes under evacuation alerts, indicating a potential for imminent evacuation. Despite the deployment of 19 helicopters to the Bald Range wildfire, its intensity has made containment efforts challenging, according to Ravi Parmer, British Columbia Minister of Forests.
Smoke from the fires has also limited the effectiveness of aerial firefighting efforts. The blaze has been primarily fueled by extremely dry conditions, with one instance of explosive growth recorded Friday, where the fire expanded by 19 square miles (50 square kilometers) in just three hours.
In the United States, Washington state has implemented emergency measures to assist those affected by recent fires. Governor Bob Ferguson announced emergency proclamations in Spokane, suspending waiting periods for unemployment benefits and prohibiting evictions. The state is also working to secure a major disaster declaration from the federal government to obtain further support.
Meanwhile, in California, a wildfire along the Big Sur coast prompted evacuations in steep, rugged mountain areas. The Timber Fire in Monterey County, which started Sunday, had grown to approximately 2 square miles (5 square kilometers) by Monday afternoon.