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Bald Range wildfire surges
British Columbia declared a state of emergency on Saturday after the fast-moving Bald Range wildfire nearly doubled in size overnight, growing to about 9,510 hectares and prompting evacuation orders in Summerland, Peachland and other districts west of Okanagan Lake.
“grew rapidly to about 9,510 hectares”
Premier David Eby said one fire official likened the blaze to "a bomb going off," describing flames on a 100-foot tree, flames going 200 feet above that, and the fire creating its own weather system that produces lightning.
The AP reported that the emergency was announced as more than 100 wildfires burned across the province, with nearly half out of control in hot, windy weather and prolonged drought.
More than 20,000 people were forced to flee communities along Okanagan Lake, and Summerland, home to about 12,000 people, was ordered evacuated overnight along with about 8,000 people in and around nearby Peachland.
The Reuters account said the region produces most of B.C.'s wine and is Canada's second-largest wine-producing area, while officials said the Bald Range wildfire triggered the largest evacuation event so far this summer.
Officials flee, rescues expand
As evacuation orders jammed roads, Erick Thompson, an emergency official with the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen, said he had to abandon the emergency operations center and evacuate his family, telling a video posted early Saturday, "I had to leave the EOC to come and get my family to leave this area."
AP reported that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police are investigating a possible wildfire death near Summerland, but hazardous conditions prevented authorities from confirming the fatality.
In a separate account, the CBC said Peachland Mayor Patrick Van Minsel told the broadcaster that no structures have been lost in his community due to the Bald Range fire, while estimating about 20 per cent of Peachland residents were placed under an evacuation order.
CBC also quoted Van Minsel saying his fire chief told him the blaze was unlike anything crews had ever dealt with, adding, "He said they had never seen this before, the behaviour of this fire."
The AP said British Columbia Forests Minister Ravi Parmar reported 18 firefighting aircraft rescued more than 50 people, while Eby said some residents became trapped and search-and-rescue crews continued looking for others who may have been caught.
Aftermath and what’s at risk
The state of emergency gave the provincial government immediate access to special powers, including travel restrictions and supply protections to prevent price gouging, and specific tools to coordinate rescue work, Reuters said.
“including travel restrictions and supply protections to prevent price gouging”
AP reported that British Columbia Emergency Management Minister Kelly Greene said the state of emergency gives the province additional powers, including the ability to restrict travel and secure accommodations for evacuees that might otherwise be unavailable.
In the CBC account, evacuees were sent north to an Emergency Support Services reception centre in West Kelowna, and Van Minsel said evacuation orders and alerts would remain in place at least overnight while officials reviewed the situation the next day.
The CBC also reported that the Penticton Indian Band issued an evacuation order for half a dozen properties, along with an alert for a similar number of addresses, while the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen expanded an evacuation alert for properties south of Summerland and west of Penticton.
Meanwhile, the ABC News & Headlines account said the Bald Range wildfire triggered the largest evacuation event so far this summer and that more than 20,000 people across B.C. have been forced to evacuate their homes, with Summerland Mayor Doug Holmes saying, "We have to brace ourselves for the worst."
