Forest Fires in British Columbia Intensify, Thousands Evacuated
KELOWNA, British Columbia – Forest fires in Canada’s western province of British Columbia have intensified, leading to a doubling of the number of people under evacuation orders. The current wildfire situation has prompted authorities to warn of difficult days ahead.
On Friday, the province declared a state of emergency, allowing them to access temporary authoritative powers to better tackle the risks associated with the fires. Out-of-control fires have ravaged interior British Columbia, partially shutting down parts of a key transit route between the Pacific coast and the rest of western Canada and destroying numerous properties.
“The current situation is grim,” said Premier Daniel Eby during a press conference on Saturday. He revealed that 35,000 people are now under evacuation orders, with an additional 30,000 under evacuation alerts.
Premier Eby also expressed the urgent need for shelter for evacuees and firefighters. To address this issue, he ordered a ban on non-essential travel to free up temporary accommodations.
The escalation of forest fires has been attributed to strong winds and dry lightning, caused by a cold mass of air interacting with the hot air prevalent during the sultry summer season. These conditions have intensified existing fires and sparked new ones.
“We are still in some critically dry conditions, and we are still expecting difficult days ahead,” warned Jerrad Schroeder, the deputy fire centre manager at the Kamloops Fire Centre.
One particular fire, centered around the city of Kelowna, grew over a hundredfold within a 24-hour period. It forced the evacuation of more than 2,400 properties and caused the number of people under evacuation orders to grow from 4,500 to 15,000 in just one hour. An additional 20,000 people were under evacuation alerts. British Columbia currently accounts for over a third of Canada’s 1,062 active fires.
The fires have already destroyed several structures in West Kelowna. Authorities have been cautioning that the province could face the worst days of the fire season this year.
Main East-West Artery Under Threat
The TransCanada highway, a major east-west transportation route, has been closed in two sections due to the fires. One closure occurred near Chase, around 400 kilometers northeast of Vancouver, and the other between Hope, 150 kilometers east of Vancouver, and the village of Lytton.
This closure poses a threat to thousands of motorists and road freight traveling to the Port of Vancouver, the country’s busiest port.
Additionally, around 5,000 customers have lost electricity in interior British Columbia due to the fires, according to the main utility company.
The severity of the current wildfire season in Canada is highlighting the extent of the situation. Forest fires are not uncommon in the country, but the rapid spread and significant disruptions demonstrate that this is one of the worst seasons on record.
Local resources have been strained, prompting the federal government and assistance from 13 countries to step in. Tragically, at least four firefighters have lost their lives fighting the fires.
Approximately 140,000 square kilometers (54,054 square miles) of land, roughly the size of New York state, have already burned. Government officials project that the fire season could extend into autumn due to widespread drought-like conditions.
As the fires continue to ravage British Columbia, the northern Canadian city of Yellowknife has also faced evacuations. Most of its roughly 20,000 residents have left due to an approaching large blaze. Many residents have sought refuge in neighboring provinces, fearful that the fire could cut off land exits and cause more harm.
Residents and tourists have been driving away from the fire along roads flanked by flames and smoke. Some individuals have been flown out by local and federal authorities.
The blaze threatening Yellowknife, the capital city of the Northwest Territories, has been held back by firefighters, but there are concerns that strong winds could push the blaze towards the city in the coming days.
This wildfire crisis is a stark reminder of the vulnerability of communities and ecosystems in the face of extreme weather events. It underscores the urgent need for increased efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change.
Reporting by Ismail Shakil in Ottawa, Writing by Denny Thomas. Editing by Kim Coghill, Josie Kao, and Deepa Babington. Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.