British Columbia declares state of emergency as more than 20,000 flee wildfires

British Columbia declared a state of emergency as the Bald Range wildfire nearly doubled overnight, forcing 20,000+ people to evacuate towns like Summerland and Peachland and triggering power outages and boil‑water notices.
The blaze is threatening the province’s southern interior wine region (Canada’s second‑largest), farms and homes, with reports of structures lost and people rescued.
Officials likened the fire to “a bomb going off,” saying it’s creating its own weather, and international crews from Mexico, Australia, France and New Zealand have joined the fight.