Canadian officials declared a state of emergency Saturday after a fast-moving wildfire forced the overnight evacuation of more than 20,000 people in the western province of British Columbia. Winds fanned the Bald Range wildfire to grow rapidly late Friday, pushing flames into the Summerland area and affecting communities throughout the surrounding valleys. “We know there have been significant losses of homes and property. We also know that some people became trapped as conditions changed quickly,” British Columbia Premier David Eby said in a statement Saturday. “Air evacuations are underway for people who remain isolated behind the fire perimeter,” Eby said. Kelly Greene, the province’s Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, declared a state of emergency.
