Mexican Firefighters Join Canada Wildfire Fight As 20,000 Flee
About 100 firefighters from Mexico have arrived in British Columbia to help battle the deadly Bald Range wildfire, which has forced around 20,000 people to leave their homes and destroyed homes and other properties near Okanagan Lake.
The fire, which covers about 156 square kilometres, has killed an 80 year old woman and continues to spread toward Summerland, a community of around 12,000 people. The woman died in Meadow Valley while trying to escape the flames, officials said.
The blaze grew overnight despite relatively calm winds, making the work harder for firefighters. Officials said the fire is being driven by extremely dry conditions and intense heat. Burning embers are also jumping ahead of the main fire and starting new fires, limiting where crews can safely work.
About 193 firefighters, including the Mexican team, are now working to build control lines and slow the fire. Another 10,000 people remain under evacuation alert and have been warned to prepare to leave if conditions worsen.
The small community of Faulder has suffered major damage, with reports that much of the area has been destroyed. Officials have not yet been able to complete a full damage assessment because conditions remain too dangerous.
Summerland Mayor Doug Holmes has warned residents that they should not expect to return home soon. He said the community must prepare for the possibility that many homes have been lost.
Emergency authorities have secured about 1,600 hotel rooms and 1,000 group lodging spaces for evacuees. Canada has also moved to provide wider federal support as the crisis grows.
Police have opened a criminal investigation into the cause of the fire. Authorities have not said that the blaze was deliberately started.
British Columbia is facing a wider wildfire crisis, with about 100 active fires across the province. Roughly half are considered out of control. Officials have also warned of a high risk of new lightning sparked fires in the Central Interior and Okanagan region.