A fast-moving wildfire in western Canada has doubled in size within days, forcing thousands to flee as officials warn the situation could get worse.
The Bald Range fire has now spread across more than 103 sq km in British Columbia, covering areas around Summerland and Peachland.
A state of emergency has been declared as firefighters battle flames so intense they are creating their own weather including lightning.
“We have to brace ourselves for the worst,” Summerland Mayor Doug Holmes told Reuters.
British Columbia Premier David Eby said the blaze had been compared by one fire official to “a bomb going off”.
Homes and properties have already been destroyed, while some residents were trapped by rapidly changing conditions and needed rescuing.
Fire Triggers Mass Evacuations
More than 20,000 people across British Columbia have evacuated, making it the province’s largest evacuation event of the summer.
Seniors from care facilities are also being moved to safety, while residents face the difficult task of getting livestock out of threatened areas.
Officials are still assessing the full damage, with the number of destroyed structures unknown.
The Bald Range blaze is part of a wider crisis. Hundreds of wildfires have swept across Canada this summer, smoke into the US and creating hazardous air quality.
For communities in the fire’s path, the message is simple.
When a wildfire moves this fast, home can become unsafe in a matter of minutes.
