This handout photo taken on August 7, 2026, and released on August 8 by the BC Wildlife Service shows firefighters battling the Bald Range wildfire. [AFP]
Canadian officials declared a state of emergency Saturday after a fast-moving wildfire in the western province of British Columbia forced the overnight evacuation of more than 20,000 people, including some who were airlifted to safety.
Winds fanned the Bald Range wildfire to grow rapidly late Friday, pushing flames into the Summerland area and affecting communities throughout the surrounding valleys.
"We know there have been significant losses of homes and property. We also know that some people became trapped as conditions changed quickly," British Columbia Premier David Eby said in a statement Saturday.
"Air evacuations are underway for people who remain isolated behind the fire perimeter," Eby said.
The Bald Range fire covered an estimated area of 10,341 hectares (25,552 acres) as of early Sunday and was considered out of control, according to the BC Wildfire Service website.
Kelly Greene, the province's Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, declared a state of emergency.