Approximately 100 firefighters from Mexico arrived Tuesday to support efforts battling a significant wildfire in Western Canada. The blaze, which has forced 20,000 people to evacuate, has destroyed homes and other properties near Okanagan Lake in British Columbia.
The fire, spanning 156 square kilometers (60 square miles), has been attributed to the death of an 80-year-old woman who was attempting to flee the advancing flames. The fire is burning towards Summerland, a community of about 12,000 residents located roughly 300 kilometers (185 miles) east of Vancouver.
Crews are facing challenging conditions in steep terrain and high temperatures, according to Hugh Murdoch of the British Columbia Wildfire Service. Burning embers are igniting new fires beyond the main perimeter, limiting direct firefighting opportunities. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police have initiated a criminal investigation into the origin of the fire, which started on Friday. The woman died in Meadow Valley, west of Summerland.
Officials have not yet completed damage assessments due to the dangerous conditions, but it is confirmed that numerous homes have been destroyed. Summerland Mayor Doug Holmes advised residents not to anticipate an immediate return home, acknowledging the potential for significant loss and the need for community support.
Across British Columbia, about 100 wildfires were active, with approximately half of them uncontrolled. The province's Wildfire Service has also indicated a high risk of new lightning-induced fires in the central Interior and Okanagan regions.