Premier David Eby of British Columbia declared a state of emergency, warning that the situation would only get more challenging in the coming days. The McDougall Creek wildfire, fueled by gusty conditions, has ravaged 10,500 hectares of land and forced thousands of evacuations in the city of West Kelowna, located 300 kilometers east of Vancouver.
West Kelowna, home to around 36,000 people, was not the only city affected. Nearby Kelowna, with a population of approximately 150,000, was also on evacuation alert. The Northwest Territories region faced an equally daunting scenario, with over 19,000 people believed to have evacuated from the fires threatening Yellowknife, the regional capital of around 20,000 people.
Firefighters worked around the clock to contain the blazes, digging fuel breaks, spreading fire retardant, and dropping water from the air. Cloud cover and cooler temperatures briefly slowed the fire’s progression west of Yellowknife, providing a temporary reprieve.
Despite the efforts, the province’s environment minister, Shane Thompson, urged anyone not considered essential staff to leave immediately. An estimated 4,000 people were evacuated by air, with the possibility of more flights on Saturday pending weather and crew availability.
Premier David Eby of British Columbia (Via David Eby/Twitter)The situation is further complicated by poor communication, with rumors, patchy cellphone reception, and a Facebook ban on news links contributing to the uncertainty. The ban, imposed by Meta, has hindered the dissemination of accurate information, leaving residents struggling to stay informed.
As the situation continues to unfold, residents are grappling with the reality of potentially extended evacuations. Yellowknife Mayor Rebecca Alty lamented the uncertainty, stating, “Unfortunately, the journey isn’t done yet. The fire continues to approach, and the uncertainty of when you’ll be able to return will be difficult.”
West Kelowna Fire Chief Jason Brolund echoed the premier’s concerns, saying, “We fought hard last night to protect our community. Night turned to day because of the orange glow of the clouds and the fire.” Over 2,400 properties were evacuated, and several structures were destroyed during the night.
As the province confronts its worst wildfire season ever, officials are cautioning that the next 24 to 48 hours will be the most critical. With more than 1,000 active fires burning across the country, including 236 in the Northwest Territories, the situation is far from resolving.