British Columbia Wildfires Force 20,000 to Flee
More than twenty thousand people have been forced from their homes as wildfires rage across the Canadian province of British Columbia, which has declared a state of emergency. Over a hundred fires were burning, nearly half of them out of control, fanned by hot, dry and windy conditions. Firefighters battled to protect communities as the flames spread.
The fires are part of a punishing wildfire season across the northern hemisphere, from Canada and the American west to southern Europe, driven by heat and drought that scientists link to a warming climate. British Columbia has endured a run of record fire years, choking cities in smoke and forcing mass evacuations. The declaration of a provincial emergency unlocks extra resources and coordination as crews struggle to contain the fastest-moving fronts. Thousands sheltered in emergency centres, uncertain when they might return. Watch whether the winds ease and allow firefighters to gain ground.