‘Explosive’ wildfire forces 20,000 people to flee as British Columbia declares state of emergency

Fast-moving fire displaces people in western Canada, burning homes as it races through towns on Okanagan Lake

British Columbia declared a state of emergency on Saturday as a fast-moving wildfire destroyed homes, trapped residents and forced more than 20,000 people to flee communities along Okanagan Lake in western Canada.

The premier, David Eby, announced the emergency as more than 100 wildfires burned across the province, nearly half of them out of control in hot, windy weather and prolonged drought.