Deadly British Columbia Wildfires Force 20,000 to Flee, Military on Standby
Wildfires in British Columbia kill one, displace 20,000, and prompt military standby as Summerland faces destruction.
Canada has placed its military on standby to assist with deadly wildfires raging across British Columbia, where one woman has died and about 20,000 people have been forced from their homes. The announcement came Monday as the mayor of Summerland, a town of roughly 12,000 residents, warned that one of the blazes had caused significant destruction in his community.
The fast-moving Bald Range wildfire remained out of control after sweeping toward Summerland and nearby Peachland over the weekend. Evacuation orders were issued Saturday night for Summerland and about 8,000 people in and around Peachland. The mayor cautioned that the affected areas were too dangerous to enter, making it impossible to assess the full extent of the damage.
Scores of wildfires have been burning across the province for days, with nearly half listed as out of control amid hot, windy weather and prolonged drought. Thousands have fled on congested roads, and officials have warned that additional communities could be threatened as the situation evolves.