More than 20,000 people have been forced from their homes by out-of-control wildfires in Canada's British Columbia, where 105 blazes are currently burning. Canadian officials on Saturday declared a state of emergency in the province after the fast-moving fire prompted mass evacuation orders.

Describing the intensity of the blaze, British Columbia Premier David Eby said a fire official compared it to "a bomb going off." He recounted: "He described flames on a 100-foot tree, flames going 200 feet above that, and the fire creating its own weather system, which creates lightning." Eby added that homes have been lost and properties destroyed, with some people trapped by rapidly changing conditions and requiring rescue.

The fire, first reported Friday evening, grew rapidly overnight, spreading to about 9,500 hectares by Saturday. This prompted the evacuation of all 12,000 residents of the Summerland district. The Summerland blaze is one of many challenging emergency crews across the province, which has seen 70 new wildfires in the past week, according to Forests Minister Ravi Parmar.

Fires have scorched 4 million hectares in Canada in 2026, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center. Blazes have also flared up in Ontario and Quebec this year, fueled by hot, dry conditions in dense forest areas. In recent years, Canada has faced a growing number of destructive wildfire seasons, raising concerns about climate change and emergency preparedness.

Source: www.dw.com