Greg Krauter, who was forced to evacuate his Summerland property with his seven goats due to the Bald Range wildfire, checks on some of them in the back of his truck, in Penticton, British Columbia, on Saturday. DARRYL DYCK VIA AP
VICTORIA, Canada — Canadian officials declared a state of emergency on 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, causing it to grow rapidly late on 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 on Saturday.
"Air evacuations are underway for people who remain isolated behind the fire perimeter," Eby said.
