不列颠哥伦比亚省遭遇前所未有的野火灾难[1]。周日，102场野火同时在该省蔓延，其中近半数处于失控状态[1]。灾情迫使约22,000人紧急撤离家园[1]，其中包括Summerland社区的全部约12,000名居民在周六夜间撤出，邻近Peachland地区另有8,000人撤离[1]。过去一周内，78场火灾新点燃[1]。
最为严峻的是Bald Range火灾，该火灾从周五晚被发现后，仅在数小时内即扩大至100多平方公里，约为曼哈顿岛面积的两倍[1]。火灾以近15公里的速度向Okanagan湖推进[1]。BC Wildfire Service主任Cliff Chapman表示该省面临"前所未有的"爆炸性火灾条件[1]。BC省省长David Eby在周六晚宣布进入紧急状态，将火灾形容为"就像一枚炸弹爆炸"[1]。
应对工作正在展开。加拿大联邦应急管理部长Eleanor Olszewski宣布已批准紧急援助请求，为撤离者提供住所和住宿[1]。参与救灾的机构投入了10架直升机和1架夜视直升机，但这些飞行器受浓烟和大火的严重阻碍[1]。当地持续干旱加剧了形势，过去六周，南BC和美国太平洋西北地区几乎没有降雨[1]。
British Columbia is grappling with an unprecedented wildfire crisis, with 102 fires simultaneously burning across the province on Sunday, nearly half of which remain uncontrolled.[1] The surge has forced approximately 22,000 people to evacuate their homes as flames advance at alarming speed.[1]
The Bald Range fire exemplifies the severity of the situation. Discovered on Friday evening, it expanded to over 100 square kilometers—roughly twice the size of Manhattan—within hours and is advancing toward Okanagan Lake at nearly 15 kilometers per hour.[1] The emergency has prompted widespread evacuations, including the entire community of Summerland, home to about 12,000 residents, which was cleared on Saturday night, along with a further 8,000 people from the nearby Peachland area.[1]
The devastating conditions stem partly from exceptionally dry weather, with southern British Columbia and the U.S. Pacific Northwest receiving virtually no rain over the past six weeks.[1] BC Wildfire Service Director Cliff Chapman has characterized the province as facing "unprecedented" explosive fire conditions.[1] The response has included 10 helicopters and one night-vision aircraft, though thick smoke and active flames have hampered containment efforts.[1]
Provincial Premier David Eby declared a state of emergency on Saturday evening, describing the fires as erupting "like a bomb going off."[1] The federal government has stepped in to provide immediate relief, with Emergency Management Minister Eleanor Olszewski announcing approval of federal assistance to supply shelter and accommodation for those displaced.[1]