20,000 flee Okanagan wildfire as Canadian military stands ready to assist
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About 20,000 people have been forced from their homes as the Bald Range wildfire continues to affect British Columbia’s Okanagan region, leaving extensive property damage and one confirmed death while the Canadian Armed Forces remain on standby to assist if formally requested.
The wildfire swept through communities near Okanagan Lake and reached the outskirts of Summerland, prompting British Columbia to declare a provincial state of emergency as homes and other structures were destroyed.
RCMP confirmed that an 80-year-old woman died while attempting to escape her home in Meadow Valley, west of Summerland.
The Bald Range fire had grown to about 156 square kilometres, up from roughly 136 square kilometres a day earlier, and remained classified as out of control.
Defence Minister David McGuinty said the Canadian Armed Forces are in direct and constant contact with British Columbia and are ready to respond as soon as a formal request for military assistance is received.
The federal government has already approved assistance to help provide shelter and accommodation for evacuees, as officials continue to assess the situation hour by hour.
Thousands of homes remain under evacuation orders as firefighters continue efforts to protect communities and critical infrastructure.
