The province of British Columbia in Canada is currently facing severe forest fires. The number of people under evacuation orders has doubled in just one day, indicating the escalating situation. Authorities have declared a state of emergency to access temporary authoritative powers to handle the fire-related risks. These out-of-control fires have caused major disruptions, partially closing sections of a crucial highway and destroying numerous properties.

Premier Daniel Eby expressed the severity of the situation, stating that approximately 35,000 people are under evacuation orders, with an additional 30,000 under evacuation alerts. The province is in desperate need of shelter for evacuees and firefighters, prompting a ban on non-essential travel to free up more temporary accommodations. Officials have also urged residents to refrain from operating drones in the fire zone, as it can hinder firefighting efforts.

The fire is primarily concentrated around Kelowna, a city located 300 kilometers (180 miles) east of Vancouver, with a population of approximately 150,000.

While forest fires are not uncommon in Canada, the scale and disruption caused by this season’s wildfires highlight the severity of the situation. Around 140,000 square kilometers (54,054 square miles) of land, an area roughly equivalent to the size of New York state, have already been consumed by fires. Government officials predict that the fire season may extend into autumn due to widespread drought-like conditions in Canada.

The recent occurrence of strong winds and dry lightning, resulting from the interaction between a cold mass of air and built-up hot air during the summer, have contributed to the intensification of existing forest fires and the ignition of new ones.

“We are still facing critically dry conditions and expect more challenging days ahead,” said Jerrad Schroeder, deputy fire center manager at the Kamloops Fire Centre.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau convened a meeting on Saturday with key ministers and senior officials to address the wildfires. The Incident Response Group, which had already met earlier in the week, agreed to provide “additional resources” to both British Columbia and the Northwest Territories (NWT).

A wildfire burning out of control in Yellowknife, the capital city of NWT, has resulted in the evacuation of almost all of its 20,000 residents this week. Unfortunately, one patient died while being transferred out of Yellowknife, according to an NWT minister.

Currently, officials do not expect the fire to reach the city limits by the end of the weekend. Some rain and cooler temperatures have helped slow down its progress.

The TransCanada highway has been closed near Chase, approximately 400 km northeast of Vancouver, and between Hope, 150 km east of Vancouver, and the village of Lytton. This highway serves as the primary east-west route for thousands of motorists and truckers heading to Vancouver, Canada’s busiest port.

Kip Lumquist, who works at a gift shop in Craigellachie, British Columbia, a popular tourist spot along the highway, described the devastating impact of the fires. Visibility was extremely poor for over two days, with the hills, mountains, and trees completely obscured. Lumquist shared the extent of the destruction, saying, “I drive a white vehicle, and when I walked out to get in my car… it’s just black… It’s devastating to the community.”

By Friday, the fire in southern B.C. had grown over a hundredfold within 24 hours and forced the evacuation of more than 2,400 properties. Authorities have warned that the province may face the worst days of the fire season this year.

Currently, B.C. accounts for over a third of Canada’s 1,062 active fires. Additionally, approximately 5,000 customers in the interior of the province are without electricity, according to the main utility company.

The fires have depleted local resources, resulting in federal government assistance and support from 13 countries. Tragically, four firefighters have lost their lives in the line of duty.