Over 20,000 evacuated as wildfire spreads in western Canada

Canadian authorities have ordered the evacuation of more than 20,000 people from their homes as a rapidly spreading wildfire in British Columbia, western Canada, approaches towns near Okanagan Lake.

Evacuation orders cover all residents of Summerland, a town of about 12,000 people, as well as around 8,000 people in Peachland and surrounding areas. Authorities have not yet specified how many homes have been destroyed by the fire.

The "Bald Range" wildfire began on the evening of the previous day and quickly expanded to cover nearly 5,000 hectares, advancing approximately 15 kilometers toward Summerland. Local authorities have declared a state of emergency in the area.

An official from the Okanagan-Similkameen emergency management department described the blaze as one of the fastest-growing wildfires the region has ever experienced.