State of emergency declared in British Columbia as wildfires force evacuations
A state of emergency has been declared in British Columbia as wildfires force thousands of residents from their homes.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
A state of emergency has been declared in the western Canadian province of British Columbia as a series of fast-moving wildfires force thousands of people from their homes. The province's premier, David Eby, described the situation as "fast-moving and threatening," with homes and other buildings destroyed. The Summerland region, about 200 miles east of Vancouver, is among the worst affected, where a fire that began on Friday has doubled in size and remains out of control.
Officials said the fire grew with astonishing speed. One local resident described how it went from 50 hectares to 400, then 1,000, then 5,000 within two or three hours. A fire official likened the intensity to "a bomb going off," with flames on 100-foot trees and fire creating its own weather system. The blaze forced the evacuation of the entire town of Summerland, population 12,500, as well as surrounding areas. In total, more than 20,000 people have been ordered to leave their homes across the province.
British Columbia's Minister of Forests, Ravi Parmar, said there were over 100 active fires in the province, with 49 burning out of control. He noted that the southern half of the province is extremely dry, with hot conditions, wind gusts, and potential dry lightning in the forecast. The provincial state of emergency gives the government extraordinary powers, including the ability to impose travel restrictions, procure resources, and manage the placement of evacuees. Around 2,000 firefighters, supported by nearly 180 planes and helicopters, are battling the blazes.
Tragically, an 80-year-old woman died while trying to flee the fires, marking the first reported death. Many residents had to evacuate at short notice, sometimes at midnight, grabbing only what they could carry. Some people became trapped as roads closed, and others had to be airlifted to safety. Farmers faced particular challenges, with many unable to evacuate livestock. One cherry farmer, Erin Carlson, said her workers had to be helicoptered out after the only road caught fire. She described the situation as an "international emergency" and called for urgent action on climate change.
The fires are part of a broader pattern across Canada, where hot, dry weather has fuelled hundreds of blazes this summer. Last month, 200 fires burned around Ontario, sending smoke as far south as Minnesota and New York. In British Columbia, the current fire season has already seen over 9 million acres burned. Experts point to climate change as a key factor, making such infernos more frequent and severe. The fires have also drawn international help, with firefighters from New Zealand, Mexico, and France deployed to assist.
As the fires continue to burn, officials warn that the situation remains dynamic. More evacuation orders may be needed, and residents are urged to stay vigilant. The mayor of Summerland, Doug Holmes, said the community is staying with friends and family or in evacuation centres, and that the fire is still out of control but not spreading as fast as before. The long-term recovery is expected to take years, with many homes and livelihoods lost.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | Channel 5 | BBC News | BBC One | Channel 4 | ITV | Sky News |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A provincial state of emergency was declared in British Columbia. | · | |||||
| About 20,000 British Columbians have been displaced from their communities. | · | |||||
| There are over 100 active fires in British Columbia. | · | · | ||||
| A fire near Summerland grew from 50 to 1,000 hectares in under an hour. | · | · | · | |||
| The majority of fires were caused by lightning strikes. | · | · | · | |||
| Two firefighting helicopters collided midair in Greece while responding to wildfires; the crew of one was located safe, the other is still being searched for. | · | · | · | |||
| 2023 was Canada's worst fire season on record with 13 million hectares burned; the current season burned about 4 million hectares. | · | · | · | · | ||
| A major incident was declared in Suffolk after a large wildfire broke out on heathland. | · | · | · | · | ||
| In the United States, a wildfire in Spokane, Washington expanded to 2,500 acres, with evacuations underway; the governor declared a wildfire emergency and a statewide burn ban, and multiple ground and air resources are being deployed. | · | · | · | · | ||
| The Summerland region was among the worst affected, with a fire that doubled in size since Friday. | · | · | · | · | ||
| Washington Governor Bob Ferguson said he spoke with President Trump, who expressed concern about the wildfires. | · | · | · | · | ||
| 49 of the active wildfires were burning uncontrolled. | · | · | · | · | · |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
BBC News provided the most extensive coverage, including multiple interviews with officials and affected residents. It focused on the human impact, the speed of the fire, and the broader climate context. It also reported the first death and gave detailed accounts of evacuation experiences.
- “Like a bomb going off, that was how local officials described the fires that continue to sweep through remote western Canada.”
- “The fire went from 50 hectares to 400 to 1,000 to 5,000 like within two or three hours.”
- “It's gonna be a long time.”
BBC ONE West focused on the dramatic speed of the fire and the state of emergency, using the same Joe Inwood report and an interview with the forests minister. It highlighted the 'bomb going off' description and the rapid growth of the blaze, with less emphasis on personal stories compared to BBC News.
- “Like a bomb going off, that was how local officials described the fires that continue to sweep through remote western Canada.”
- “The fire went from 50 hectares to 400 to 1,000 to 5,000 like within two or three hours.”
Sky News provided a detailed on-the-ground update with correspondent Oliver Whitfield-Myocic, focusing on the scale of the fires (102 active, 49 uncontrolled), the difficulty of evacuating animals, and the international help being deployed. It also compared the current season to the record 2023 season.
- “So there's 102 active wildfires in British Columbia alone, the westernmost province in Canada, and 49 of those are on an uncontrolled burn.”
- “It's left some people trapped.”
ITV1 focused on the immediate impact, reporting that 30,000 people had been evacuated (though later saying 21,000) and comparing the fire's size to the city of Bristol. It emphasised the speed and ferocity of the blaze, and the fear of residents not knowing if their homes were still standing.
- “The out-of-control wildfires sweeping Western Canada have been compared to a bomb going off.”
- “I don't know whether my house is gone or Still there or not, but that fire came so fast and furious.”
Channel 4 provided a comprehensive report with Jonathan Rugman, focusing on the remote nature of the fires, the role of lightning and climate change, and the broader context of over 9 million acres burned in Canada. It also noted a potential political angle with President Trump's tariff threats over smoke crossing the border.
- “The fire went from 50 hectares to 400 to 1,000 to 5,000 within two or three hours.”
- “A state of emergency has been declared here in British Columbia.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.