One of Canada’s worst-ever wildfire seasons may have turned fatal.
Driving the news: Police are now investigating a potential fatality from a large wildfire near Summerland, B.C. that doubled in size overnight and sparked one of the largest evacuations in the province’s history. Over 22,000 B.C. residents have already been forced to evacuate their homes, while nearly 10,000 more have been told to prepare to do so.
Premier David Eby declared a state of emergency on Saturday, saying that the Summerland fires were “like a bomb going off.” Ottawa is now coordinating with the province to find shelter spaces for evacuees.
B.C. now has 105 active wildfires, 70 of which have sprung up in the last week. With fires cutting off evacuation routes, first responders have had to fly into communities to rescue stranded residents.
Why it matters: The speed and scale of the B.C. blazes are the latest reminder of how volatile Canadian wildfire season has become. On July 7, the total area burned nationally was less than half the 10-year average. Just over a week later, ~300 new wildfires had sprung up — mostly in Ontario — and the total area burned hit 2.78 million hectares, well above the same 10-year average.
What’s next: With dry conditions and strong winds persisting, the fires in B.C. are expected to get worse before they get better.—LA
