‘Explosive’ wildfire forces 20,000 people to flee as British Columbia declares state of emergency

<p>Fast-moving fire displaces people in western Canada, burning homes as it races through towns on Okanagan Lake</p><p>British Columbia declared a state of emergency on Saturday as a fast-moving wildfire destroyed homes, trapped residents and forced more than 20,000 people to flee communities along Okanagan Lake in western Canada.</p><p>The premier, David Eby, <a href="https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2026PREM0032-000932">announced the emergency</a> as more than 100 wildfires burned across the province, nearly half of them out of control in hot, windy weather and prolonged drought.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/aug/08/canada-wildfires-british-columbia">Continue reading...</a>