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'Total incinerated destruction': Canada wildfire evacuees wonder if they still have homes
BBC • • general
Key Points:
- The Bald Range wildfire in British Columbia's Okanagan region has rapidly expanded to 53 square miles, forcing over 12,000 residents to evacuate, with at least one fatality reported.
- The fire has caused widespread destruction, leaving areas covered in ash and officials are still assessing the number of homes lost.
- The Okanagan area is experiencing severe drought, with water levels at their lowest since 1992, exacerbating wildfire risks alongside more than 100 active fires in the province.
- Residents like 18-year-old Keegan Radomski have been caught off guard by the fire's speed, highlighting the increasing threat despite familiarity with wildfire risks.
- Experts attribute the growing intensity and frequency of wildfires in Canada and beyond to climate change, with 2023 marking the worst wildfire season in Canadian history by area burned.
