British Columbia wildfires intensify, doubling evacuations to over 35,000

Forest fires in British Columbia, Canada have worsened, resulting in a doubling of evacuation orders. The province declared a state of emergency to gain additional powers to combat fire-related risks. The fires have caused the closure of sections of a major highway and the destruction of numerous properties. Premier Daniel Eby stated that the situation is grim, with 35,000 people under evacuation orders and an additional 30,000 under evacuation alerts. The province is urgently in need of shelter for evacuees and firefighters, prompting a ban on non-essential travel to free up temporary accommodations. Authorities have also urged residents to refrain from operating drones in the fire zone as it hampers firefighting efforts. The fires originate in Kelowna, a city around 300 kilometers east of Vancouver. This is the worst wildfire season on record in Canada, with approximately 140,000 square kilometers already burned, and officials believe the fire season could last into autumn due to drought-like conditions. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau convened a meeting to discuss wildfires and agreed to provide additional resources to British Columbia and Northwest Territories. The closure of the TransCanada highway, a vital east-west route, has impacted thousands of motorists and truckers traveling to Vancouver. The fires have caused significant devastation and have resulted in the evacuation of over 2,400 properties. The province is currently experiencing power outages, with around 5,000 customers affected. Local and federal resources, as well as assistance from 13 other countries, have been deployed to combat the wildfires.

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