Forest fires in the province of British Columbia, western Canada, intensified yesterday, Saturday, with the number of people ordered to evacuate doubling from the previous day. Authorities warned that the coming days will be difficult. The province declared a state of emergency on Friday, granting officials temporary powers to address the dangers associated with the uncontrollable fires across British Columbia, which have led to the closure of certain highway sectors between the Pacific coast and the rest of western Canada, as well as the destruction of numerous properties.
British Columbia Premier David Eby told reporters, "The current situation is grim," adding that about 35,000 people had received evacuation orders, and an additional 30,000 were on standby for evacuation. Eby stated that the province is in urgent need of shelter for firefighters and evacuees, noting a decision had been made to prohibit unnecessary travel to provide more temporary accommodation.
The fire is concentrated around Kelowna, a city approximately 300 kilometers east of Vancouver, with a population of about 150,000. Wildfires are common in Canada, but the spread and scale of this fire reflect the severity of the worst wildfire season so far. The flames have consumed an area of approximately 140,000 square kilometers, nearly equivalent to the size of New York State. Government officials expect the fire season to continue into the fall due to widespread drought-like conditions across Canada.
