Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 02:47pm on 09 Aug 2026,Sunday International
British Columbia has declared a provincial state of emergency after a fast-moving wildfire rapidly expanded near Okanagan Lake, forcing more than 20,000 people to evacuate. The Bald Range wildfire nearly doubled in size overnight to around 9,500 hectares, destroying homes and threatening communities including Summerland and Peachland. Officials described the fire’s behaviour as extremely intense, with changing conditions complicating firefighting and rescue operations. Some residents were trapped and had to be rescued by aircraft. More than 100 wildfires are burning across the province, while firefighters are receiving international assistance. Authorities continue to issue evacuation orders and alerts as dangerous conditions persist.
