Canadian officials declared a state of emergency in British Columbia on Saturday, August 9th, 2026, as wildfires spread uncontrollably, forcing more than 20,000 people to evacuate their homes.

The most intense blaze, first reported on Friday evening, grew rapidly overnight to cover approximately 9,500 hectares (23,500 acres). This fire alone prompted the evacuation of all 12,000 residents in the Summerland district.

British Columbia Premier David Eby described the fire's intensity by quoting a fire official who compared it to "a bomb going off." He detailed flames engulfing a 100-foot (30-meter) tree, with flames reaching 200 feet above, and noted that the fire was creating its own weather system, which generated lightning.

The fast-changing conditions trapped some people who required rescue. Homes and properties have been lost and destroyed due to the fires.

The Summerland fire is among 105 wildfires currently burning in the province. Over the past week, British Columbia has seen 70 new wildfires, according to British Columbia Minister of Forests Ravi Parmar.

Across Canada, wildfires have scorched 4 million hectares in 2026, as reported by the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center.

Sources