A major wildfire in western Canada has prompted a large-scale evacuation across two British Columbia communities, with the fire expanding dramatically over a short period. The Bald Range fire, located in the Summerland and Okanagan-Similkameen districts, has grown to cover more than 36 square miles since being first detected on Friday.
Local emergency management officials characterized the fire’s spread as among the fastest and most extensive they have encountered in the region. The entire population of Summerland, approximately 12,000 people, received evacuation orders, along with roughly 8,000 residents of the adjacent community of Peachland. The fire remained uncontrolled as of Saturday morning, and power outages affected Summerland early in the day.
The evacuation presented challenges beyond human safety. The area is home to numerous horses, and residents faced difficulties in relocating their animals. Some property owners opened gates to allow livestock to flee independently, while others applied identifying marks to animals in hopes of locating them afterward, according to reports from local residents.
As the fire advanced, emergency operations personnel, including regional officials coordinating response efforts, departed their posts to attend to their own families. The extent of structural damage from the fire had not yet been determined at the time of reporting.
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