Ottawa (Canada), August 10, 2026, BNN Web Staff: More than 20,000 people were evacuated in western Canada after a fast-moving wildfire intensified in British Columbia’s Okanagan region, threatening communities along Okanagan Lake and damaging structures.
According to CNN, evacuation orders were issued for the entire town of Summerland, home to around 12,000 people, along with nearly 8,000 residents in and around nearby Peachland. Authorities were assessing the extent of damage caused by the blaze.
The Bald Range wildfire, which was first reported on Friday evening, grew rapidly and covered approximately 50 square kilometres within a short period. The fire overwhelmed the smaller community of Faulder before advancing towards Summerland, roughly 15 kilometres away.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said the federal government was prepared to provide assistance to British Columbia as provincial authorities and emergency crews responded to the rapidly developing situation.
Carney expressed support for residents forced to leave their homes and praised firefighters and first responders working to contain the blaze and protect communities.
Canada’s Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience, Eleanor Olszewski, said the federal government had approved British Columbia’s request for emergency assistance to provide shelter and accommodation to people displaced by wildfires.
Federal officials, led by the Government Operations Centre at Public Safety Canada, will coordinate with the provincial government to ensure assistance reaches affected residents, Olszewski said.
The wildfire crisis has placed emergency crews and local authorities under pressure as they work to protect communities, evacuate residents and assess damage. Federal authorities have pledged continued support to those affected by the wildfires across British Columbia.
