Forest fires in Canada’s western province of British Columbia have intensified, leading to a doubling of evacuation orders overnight. Authorities are warning of challenging days ahead as out-of-control fires continue to devastate the region.

To address the fire-related risks, the province declared a state of emergency on Friday, granting temporary authoritative powers. The fires have caused partial closures of a major highway connecting the Pacific coast to western Canada and have resulted in the destruction of numerous properties.

Premier Daniel Eby addressed the situation, stating that approximately 35,000 people are under evacuation orders, with an additional 30,000 under evacuation alerts. To accommodate evacuees and firefighters, the province urgently requires additional shelter. In response, a ban on non-essential travel has been imposed to free up temporary accommodations. Officials are also urging residents to refrain from operating drones in the fire zone, as it could hinder firefighting efforts.

The epicenter of the fire is Kelowna, a city located 300 kilometers (180 miles) east of Vancouver, with a population of about 150,000.

While forest fires are not uncommon in Canada, the scale and impact of these blazes highlight the severity of the current wildfire season. Approximately 140,000 square kilometers (54,054 square miles) of land, equivalent to the size of New York state, have already been consumed by the flames. Due to widespread drought-like conditions, government officials predict that the fire season may extend into autumn.

Recent strong winds and dry lightning, resulting from the interaction between a cold mass of air and built-up hot air, have exacerbated existing forest fires and sparked new ones.

Jerrad Schroeder, deputy fire center manager at the Kamloops Fire Centre, emphasized that critically dry conditions persist, and the days ahead will remain challenging.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has convened a meeting of key ministers and senior officials to address the wildfire crisis. The Incident Response Group, convened for the second time this week, has agreed to provide “additional resources” to both British Columbia and the Northwest Territories (NWT).

A wildfire, currently out of control, is threatening Yellowknife, the capital city of the NWT. Evacuations of nearly all of its 20,000 residents have been carried out this week. Unfortunately, one patient died during the transfer out of Yellowknife.

Officials have stated that the fire is not expected to reach the city limits by the end of the weekend. Rain and cooler temperatures have aided in slowing its progress.

Sections of the TransCanada Highway have been closed near Chase, approximately 400 km northeast of Vancouver, and between Hope, 150 km east of Vancouver, and the village of Lytton. This highway is a vital east-west route used by thousands of motorists and truckers traveling to Vancouver, Canada’s busiest port.

Kip Lumquist, an employee at a gift shop in Craigellachie, British Columbia, along the highway, described the devastating impact of the fires on the community. The smoke was so thick that visibility was severely impaired for days. Lumquist recounted the devastation, saying, “It was crazy, we couldn’t see the hills, the mountains, the trees, anything, probably (for) two and a half days. I drive a white vehicle, and when I walked out to get in my car… it’s just black… It’s devastating to the community.”

The fire in southern B.C. has grown over a hundredfold in just 24 hours, resulting in the evacuation of more than 2,400 properties. Authorities have cautioned that the province may face the worst couple of days of the fire season this year.

B.C. currently accounts for over a third of Canada’s 1,062 active fires. Additionally, around 5,000 customers in the interior of the province are without electricity, according to the main utility provider.

The fires have placed a significant strain on local resources, prompting assistance from the federal government and support from 13 countries. Tragically, four firefighters have lost their lives in the line of duty.