A raging wildfire that erupted "like a bomb" has forced tens of thousands of Canadians to evacuate their homes as the Bald Range fire sweeps across parched land in British Columbia. Dozens of residents were rescued by aircraft while thousands of others took to traffic-jammed roads to escape the devastating blaze.
The fire has ravaged at least 53 square miles across British Columbia since it erupted Friday. The BC Wildfire Service reported that the fire has since doubled in size to engulf Summerland, Peachland, and other areas of the province.
Premier David Eby announced a state of emergency on Saturday as more than 100 other wildfires burned throughout the area. Eby described the Bald Range blaze as "like a bomb going off in the Summerland region" after it tore across 2,000 acres in roughly an hour.
The fire created its own weather system, sparking lightning strikes and sending flames up to 200 feet high. Officials said the blaze began around 5:30 p.m. on Friday, but they have yet to determine its cause.
Mass Evacuations and Search Operations
Evacuation orders were issued for all 12,000 residents of Summerland and another 8,000 people in and around Peachland. The two communities are located about 250 miles east of Vancouver. Among those forced to leave was Greg Krauter, who evacuated his Summerland property with his seven goats.
Premier Eby's office reported "significant structure loss," though officials have not yet assessed the full extent of the damage because the area remains an active fire zone. "Conditions are extremely dangerous and changing minute by minute," Eby said. "The fires are moving incredibly quickly."
The premier added that some residents became trapped as the fire grew, and search-and-rescue crews continued searching for others caught in its path. BC Forests Minister Ravi Parmar said more than 50 people were rescued by 18 aircraft.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said they are investigating a possible wildfire-related death near Summerland, but officers were unable to confirm a fatality due to dangerous conditions. Emergency official Erick Thompson, with the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen, provided updates from an emergency operations center before being forced to evacuate his own family.
Extreme Fire Behavior and Smoke Impacts
On Sunday morning, the BC Wildfire Service warned that the blaze was showing signs of possibly rank six behavior, which is the highest level a fire can reach. Firefighters continue working to contain the fire near Summerland.
The fire comes weeks after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to impose tariffs on Canada over wildfire smoke that choked American cities in July. Writing on Truth Social, Trump said, "We are holding Canada responsible for the fact that they are not properly maintaining their forests and brush."
Trump added that the United States is being "invaded by filthy, polluted, and unhealthy air, the quality of which is dangerous and totally unacceptable." Fires blazing in Canada's Ontario province have sent massive plumes of smoke across the eastern United States, reaching major cities including Washington, D.C., and New York City on Thursday evening.
Trump has repeatedly sought to put pressure on Canada through tariffs during his second term. The Daily Mail reached out for comment to the BC Wildfire Service, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the BC Ministry of Forests, and Premier David Eby's office.
