Canada has placed its military on standby due to massive wildfires in British Columbia, where an 80-year-old woman was killed and about 20,000 people were forced to leave their homes. NBC News reports this, citing the Associated Press, UNN writes.
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Dozens of fires broke out across the province over several days, nearly half of which went out of control due to heat, wind and prolonged drought. Thousands of people evacuated, while officials warned of a threat to other communities.
The greatest destruction was recorded near Summerland, home to about 12,000 people. The town was evacuated along with neighboring Peachland and surrounding areas. According to preliminary estimates, about 10,000 homes remain under evacuation orders, while another 3,200 could be placed under such orders.
The fire continues to spread
One of the most dangerous fires is in the Bald Range area. Its size has grown to approximately 155 square kilometers. Nineteen helicopters have been deployed to fight it, but due to the intensity of the fire, it has not yet been possible to bring it fully under control.
We could put another thousand helicopters and a thousand people on the ground, but it would not change anything
According to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, an 80-year-old woman died while trying to flee the fire near Summerland. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called her death tragic and promised continued federal support for the province.
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Canadian Defence Minister David McGuinty said that the country's Armed Forces are in contact with provincial representatives and are ready to help if British Columbia officially requests assistance.
Summerland Mayor Doug Holmes said there is currently no timeline for the return of evacuated residents. Because of damaged power lines and the danger posed by destroyed and damaged buildings, the situation must first be assessed. According to him, the extent of the destruction cannot yet be determined.
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