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Kelowna, British Columbia, is facing a worsening forest fire crisis, as the number of evacuees has doubled in just one day. With out-of-control fires raging through the province, some sections of a vital highway have been closed, and many properties have been destroyed. Premier Daniel Eby expressed concern, stating that the situation is grim, with 35,000 people under evacuation orders and another 30,000 under an evacuation alert. Shelter for evacuees and firefighters is urgently needed, prompting a ban on non-essential travel to make more temporary accommodations available. Residents have also been urged to avoid using drones in the fire zone to avoid obstructing firefighting efforts.
The epicenter of the fire is Kelowna, a city located 180 miles east of Vancouver, with a population of approximately 150,000. While forest fires are not uncommon in Canada, the current situation highlights the severity of this year’s wildfire season. Already, an area of around 54,054 square miles, roughly equivalent to the size of New York state, has been consumed by flames. The fire season is expected to persist into the autumn due to widespread drought-like conditions in the country.
The province of British Columbia has been experiencing dry lightning and strong winds, exacerbating the forest fires. A cold mass of air interacting with the built-up hot air from the sultry summer has intensified existing fires and sparked new ones. Jerrad Schroeder, deputy fire center manager at the Kamloops Fire Center, warns that the province is still facing difficult days ahead due to the ongoing dry conditions.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has called a meeting with key ministers and senior officials to discuss the wildfire situation. The Incident Response Group has agreed to provide additional resources to both British Columbia and the Northwest Territories, where another out-of-control fire has necessitated the evacuation of almost all of its 20,000 residents.
As for the main east-west highway, the TransCanada, it remains under threat. Portions of the highway close to Chase and between Hope and the village of Lytton have been closed. This road is crucial for thousands of motorists and truckers traveling to Vancouver, Canada’s busiest port.
The impact of the fires can be seen and felt by those living near the affected areas. Kip Lumquist, who works at a gift shop in Craigellachie, expressed her shock at the devastation caused. Visibility was virtually nonexistent for days, with smoke blanketing the hills, mountains, and trees. The severity of the situation is devastating for the community.
The fire in southern British Columbia has grown exponentially in just 24 hours, forcing the evacuation of over 2,400 properties. Structures in West Kelowna have been destroyed, and authorities are warning that the province may face its worst couple of days this year in terms of fire danger. British Columbia currently accounts for over a third of Canada’s active fires, and approximately 5,000 customers in the interior of the province are without electricity.
Local resources have been stretched thin, prompting the federal government and support from 13 countries to step in. Unfortunately, four firefighters have lost their lives while battling these fires. The situation remains critical and will require extensive efforts to bring under control.
Sources:
[1] Reuters: “Forest fires worsen in British Columbia, thousands evacuated” (link: [url=https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/forest-fires-worsen-british-columbia-thousands-evacuated-2023-08-19/]https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/forest-fires-worsen-british-columbia-thousands-evacuated-2023-08-19/[/url])
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