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Canada’s British Columbia has declared a state of emergency as fast-moving wildfires forced more than 20,000 people to flee their homes, with over 100 blazes burning across the province.
Officials announced the emergency on Saturday after a rapidly spreading wildfire triggered mass evacuation orders. The fire, first reported on Friday evening, expanded dramatically overnight, reaching around 9,500 hectares (23,500 acres).
All 12,000 residents of the Summerland district were ordered to evacuate as flames advanced quickly, overwhelming emergency responders.
“Homes have been lost, and properties have been destroyed,” Eby said, adding that some residents were trapped as conditions changed rapidly and had to be rescued.
The Summerland fire is among 105 active wildfires currently burning across British Columbia. According to Forests Minister Ravi Parmar, the province has recorded 70 new fires in the past week alone.
Nationwide, Canada has already seen around 4 million hectares burned in 2026, driven by hot, dry conditions that have fueled fires across multiple regions, including Ontario and Quebec.
Authorities warn that increasingly severe wildfire seasons in recent years are placing growing strain on emergency services and communities across the country.