Ankara: The wildfire situation in British Columbia (BC) has intensified with the return of hot and dry weather, threatening approximately 8,000 residents. The BC Wildfire Service issued a provincial update, highlighting the increased potential for wildfires as conditions become more severe across the province.

According to Anadolu Agency, the update noted that while winds are expected to remain light, localized conditions may cause smoke to linger and become more prominent in southern regions. This shift in weather could also reveal holdover fires, which are lightning-induced blazes that remain unnoticed until the environment becomes hotter, drier, and windier.

The BC Wildfire Service dashboard reported 120 active wildfires across the province, with five new fires ignited in the past 24 hours. Thirteen fires were extinguished during the same period, and 101 have been put out in the last week. BC Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, Kelly Greene, stated at a virtual news conference that 37 evacuation orders are currently in place, impacting around 8,000 people and 7,300 properties. Additionally, 37 evacuation alerts are affecting approximately 7,100 people and 3,800 properties.

Greene emphasized the importance of immediate evacuation during an order, acknowledging the community's willingness to protect their homes. She praised the unity and cooperation shown by residents in times of crisis. BC Minister of Forests Ravi Parmar announced the arrival of international firefighting personnel, including teams from Mexico and Australia, to assist in controlling the wildfires. Support has also been provided by firefighting personnel from Alberta, Quebec, Prince Edward Island, Yukon, and the Canadian Forest Service.

In one of the affected areas, Okanagan Indian Band Chief Dan Wilson described the situation as one of the most devastating events in the community's history. An aerial survey conducted with the BC Wildfire Service indicated that the band might have lost up to 30 homes, with an additional 200 non-band homes potentially destroyed, reported CBC.