Kathmandu— Canadian officials declared a state of emergency in British Columbia on Saturday after a fast-moving wildfire forced more than 20,000 people to evacuate their homes. The declaration comes as intense blazes rapidly expand across the province, destroying properties and creating dangerous conditions that have trapped some residents, necessitating emergency rescues.

Rapidly Expanding Wildfires

The fire, which was first reported on Friday evening, grew significantly overnight, triggering widespread evacuation orders across the region. By Saturday, the blaze had expanded to cover approximately 9,500 hectares, prompting the total evacuation of all 12,000 residents in the Summerland district.

British Columbia Premier David Eby described the intensity of the fire, noting that officials compared the blaze to "a bomb going off." Eby reported that flames have been seen reaching heights of 300 feet above trees and that the fire is creating its own weather system capable of generating lightning.

Widespread Provincial Crisis

The Summerland blaze is part of a larger crisis facing emergency crews throughout the province. British Columbia Minister of Forests Ravi Parmar stated that 70 new wildfires have emerged over the past week, bringing the total number of active fires to 105.

As conditions shift rapidly, the impact on local communities has been severe. Premier Eby confirmed that homes and properties have been lost and that some individuals became trapped as the fire's behavior changed unexpectedly, requiring rescue operations.

National Wildfire Trends

The situation in British Columbia reflects a broader trend of destructive wildfire seasons across Canada. According to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center, fires have scorched 4 million hectares across the country in 2026.

Hot, dry conditions have fueled these blazes in dense forest areas, with significant fires reported in several regions, including Ontario and Quebec.

Emergency crews continue to battle multiple active fires across the province as officials manage the ongoing evacuation orders.

(With inputs from DW)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.