'Explosive' Summerland wildfire creating conditions 'never seen before'

An "explosive" wildfire near Summerland, British Columbia, has rapidly expanded to over 100 square kilometers in just over 24 hours, forcing thousands of residents to evacuate. The BC Wildfire Service has described the Bald Range fire as one of the most challenging the province has ever encountered, with conditions that are "never seen before."

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I also want to stress that the conditions we face in B.C. right now, in particular in the southern third, are explosive.

Thousands of properties are under an evacuation order, including the entire district of Summerland and parts of Peachland, with thousands more on alert. The fire's rapid growth has created a dynamic and threatening situation, trapping some individuals who required helicopter rescues. On Friday night, at least 55 people were airlifted to safety as the wildfire advanced quickly.

B.C. Premier David Eby declared a provincial State of Emergency on Saturday in response to the escalating crisis. "Homes have been lost, and properties have been destroyed," Eby stated, emphasizing that some residents became trapped due to the rapidly changing conditions and required rescue. He assured affected individuals that they are not alone and have the support of British Columbians.

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When we see a fire start, when we see the smoke lift, we are going to be challenged and we may see fires do what we saw on this fire last night. I cannot stress enough that the conditions we are facing right now are conditions that we have never seen before.

Cliff Chapman with the BC Wildfire Service highlighted the extreme nature of the current fire conditions, particularly in the southern part of the province. "When we see a fire start, when we see the smoke lift, we are going to be challenged and we may see fires do what we saw on this fire last night," Chapman warned, underscoring the unprecedented nature of the situation. The full extent of homes and properties lost is yet to be determined, but Mayor Doug Holmes of Summerland confirmed that the Garnet Valley, Prairie Valley, and Faulder areas were significantly impacted, though the downtown core remains unaffected for now.

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Homes have been lost, and properties have been destroyed. Some people became trapped as conditions changed very quickly and needed to be rescued. It remains a very dynamic and threatening situation. To everyone affected, you are not alone. British Columbians are with you.