British Columbia, a western province in Canada, has declared a state of emergency due to wildfires that are raging in the hills and mountains near the town of West Kelowna. The fires have led to the evacuation of thousands of residents from West Kelowna as well as areas north of Kelowna, a city with a population of about 150,000. Smoke and flames were visible from West Kelowna, and the surrounding valley was filled with smoke. Airspace had been temporarily closed to allow water bombers to operate. British Columbia Premier David Eby stated that the province is experiencing its worst wildfire season in history. The number of people under evacuation orders has surged from around 4,500 to 15,000 in the past 24 hours, and an additional 20,000 people are on evacuation alert. The situation is described as unpredictable and challenging. Over 2,400 properties in West Kelowna were evacuated, and some structures were destroyed overnight. The extent of the fires and the disruption they’ve caused highlight the severity of this year’s record-breaking wildfire season in Canada, with over 1,000 active fires burning across the country. In the Northwest Territories, a massive fire threatening the capital city, Yellowknife, made limited progress due to successful firefighting efforts. However, strong winds continue to push the fire toward the city’s outskirts, posing potential danger in the coming days. Climate change is believed to have worsened the wildfire situation in Canada. Drought and high temperatures have contributed to the increased number and intensity of fires this year, and many parts of the country are experiencing abnormally dry conditions.
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