TORONTO, Aug 9 (Reuters) - The Canadian federal government said on Sunday it would assist British Columbia as raging wildfires forced thousands of ​people to evacuate by providing shelter and accommodation for ‌residents displaced in regions around Summerland and Peachland.The Bald Range wildfire, which prompted British Columbia to declare a provincial state of emergency and evacuate ​about 18,000 people, had spread to more than 10,300 ​hectares by Saturday night as firefighters continued to battle ⁠the blaze. Sign up here."Last night, I approved a request for Federal ​Assistance from British Columbia to provide shelter and accommodations for people ​who have been forced to leave their homes due to wildfires across the province," Eleanor Olszewski, Canada's minister of emergency management and community resilience, ​said in a social media post."I have tasked federal ​officials, led by the Government Operations Centre at Public Safety Canada, to work ‌with ⁠the province to ensure support reaches those who need it most," the minister said.Item 1 of 6 Smoke and flames rise from the Bald Range wildfire, near the Okanagan Lake, in Peachland, British Columbia, Canada, August 7, 2026. Small Town Heating & Cooling Ltd. via Facebook/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES. MANDATORY CREDIT. Verification lines Reuters verified the location from terrain, mountain shapes and houses that matched satellite imagery of the area and original file metadata. The date was verified from original metadata and official reports of a wildfire in the area.[1/6]Smoke and flames rise from the Bald Range wildfire, near the Okanagan Lake, in Peachland, British Columbia, Canada, August 7, 2026. Small Town Heating & Cooling Ltd. via Facebook/Handout via... Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab Read moreOver the past 24 hours, southern British Columbia continued to see fires spreading due to hot and ​dry weather, the ​province's Wildfire ⁠Service said.Poor visibility and increasing fires created new challenges to aviation and the ground crew response, ​it said.Ten helicopters and a night vision ​helicopter were ⁠operating, but were hindered by thick smoke, turbulence and large fires.The province had 34 personnel from Australia, five from New Zealand, ⁠and ​214 from Mexico supporting hundreds of ​provincial firefighters and expects additional international resources to arrive over the coming days, ​it said.Reporting by Nivedita Balu in Toronto; Editing by Alison WilliamsOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab