Wildfires in western Canada forces more than 20,000 people to evacuate
Updated on: August 8, 2026 / 11:46 PM EDT / AP British Columbia declared a state of emergency Saturday after a fast-moving wildfire destroyed homes and forced more than 20,000 people to flee communities along Okanagan Lake in western Canada, with dozens rescued by aircraft. Premier David Eby announced the emergency as more than 100 wildfires burned across the province, nearly half of them out of control in hot, windy weather and prolonged drought. Thousands fled on jammed roads as officials warned that "explosive" conditions could threaten more communities. Summerland, home to about 12,000 people, was ordered evacuated overnight, along with about 8,000 people in and around nearby Peachland. Eby's office confirmed "significant structure loss" but said officials could not yet assess the damage because the area remained an active fire zone.
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The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said they are investigating a possible wildfire death near Summerland, but hazardous conditions have prevented authorities from confirming the fatality. At an evacuation center in Penticton, Summerland resident Anette Boulet said the approaching fire "looked like doomsday." She fled before dawn with her family and five dogs, unsure whether her home was still standing.
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Version 2updated
More than 20,000 people were ordered to leave their homes overnight in western Canada as a fast-moving wildfire grew rapidly and raced toward towns along British Columbia's Okanagan Lake, destroying homes in its path.The entire community of Summerland, home to about 12,000 people, was ordered evacuated, along with about 8,000 people in and around nearby Peachland. Officials had not determined how many homes were destroyed.The Bald Range wildfire was first reported on Friday evening but grew to about 19 square miles within hours, overwhelming the smaller community of Faulder and covering the roughly 9 miles to Summerland at extraordinary speed.Erick Thompson, an emergency official with the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen, called it one of the "quickest-moving, fastest-growing" wildfires the region had experienced.Thompson eventually had to abandon the emergency operations center and evacuate his own family."I had to leave the EOC to come and get my family to leave this area.
Version 3updated
Updated on: August 8, 2026 / 11:46 PM EDT / AP British Columbia declared a state of emergency Saturday after a fast-moving wildfire destroyed homes and forced more than 20,000 people to flee communities along Okanagan Lake in western Canada, with dozens rescued by aircraft. Premier David Eby announced the emergency as more than 100 wildfires burned across the province, nearly half of them out of control in hot, windy weather and prolonged drought. Thousands fled on jammed roads as officials warned that "explosive" conditions could threaten more communities. Summerland, home to about 12,000 people, was ordered evacuated overnight, along with about 8,000 people in and around nearby Peachland. Eby's office confirmed "significant structure loss" but said officials could not yet assess the damage because the area remained an active fire zone.
