'Like a bomb exploding': fire turns Canada orange and forces 20,000 to evacuate

A massive wildfire in western Canada, dubbed the 'Boulder Ridge', doubled in size overnight and spread to about 95,000 acres, forcing more than 20,000 residents to evacuate. Authorities declared a state of emergency in British Columbia, with homes destroyed, helicopter rescues, and over 100 active fire sites.

A massive forest fire broke out in western Canada, forcing more than 20,000 people to flee their homes after authorities declared a state of emergency. The fire, named 'Boulder Ridge', doubled in size overnight between Friday and Saturday and spread to about 95,000 acres. Among the evacuated areas are the towns of Summerland and Peachland, a region considered the heart of British Columbia's wine industry. The provincial premier, David Eby, said a senior fire official likened the fire to a 'bomb exploding', describing flames 30 meters high that even reached 60 meters. The mayor of Summerland, Doug Holmes, said many farms were damaged and it is not yet known how many structures were lost. More than 50 people were rescued by helicopter from the community of Faulder. Canada's Prime Minister, Mark Carney, thanked the firefighters. About 1,500 firefighters, aided by crews from Mexico, Australia, France, and New Zealand, are battling over 100 active fire sites. So far, the province has issued 40 evacuation orders and 49 alerts.