British Columbia declared a provincewide state of emergency Saturday afternoon.
More than 100 wildfires are burning across the province. Roughly 21,700 people have been forced from their homes, while another 9,700 remain under evacuation alert.
RELATED: Wildfire Sparks Concern Just an Hour From Downtown Vancouver
BC State of Emergency
With multiple major fires burning across B.C., emergency officials say the situation remains highly fluid and could change quickly.
Premier David Eby urged anyone under an evacuation order to leave immediately. The province says the state of emergency will give officials additional powers to respond quickly to the crisis.
B.C. has declared a State of Provincial Emergency due to regional wildfires. If you are under an Evacuation Order, leave immediately & follow all directions from local officials. Do not return to evacuated areas until authorities declare it safe. Stay alert for changing… pic.twitter.com/ttFX5Jf5q2
— EmergencyInfoBC (@EmergencyInfoBC) August 8, 2026
Current Wildfire Status as of August 8th
All 12,000 residents of Summerland were ordered to evacuate Friday night. The fast-moving Bald Range wildfire was threatening the community. Officials say homes and properties have been destroyed. Firefighters and emergency crews are working around the clock as conditions remain “explosive.”
B.C.’s wildfire crisis continued to escalate Saturday as the massive Bald Range wildfire in the Okanagan forced more than 20,000 people from their homes.
The Bald Range fire near Summerland has exploded to more than 10,300 hectares, prompting additional evacuation alerts toward Penticton.
But the Bald Range fire isn’t the only blaze threatening communities.
The Ainslie Creek wildfire, part of the Brunswick Complex near Boston Bar, also triggered new evacuation orders Saturday from the Thompson-Nicola Regional District and the Nooaitch Indian Band.
The developments come as B.C. continues to face severe wildfire conditions across multiple regions.
Officials say the situation remains fluid, with evacuation orders and alerts changing as fire behaviour and weather conditions evolve.
Residents in affected areas are urged to monitor official emergency notifications and be ready to leave immediately if an evacuation order is issued.
RCMP urge residents to leave 911 lines open
With thousands of people seeking help and information following the evacuations, police say 911 is being flooded with non-emergency calls.
The Southeast District RCMP is reminding residents to use 911 only for life-threatening emergencies or crimes in progress.
For general questions or non-emergency assistance, residents are being asked to contact their local emergency operations centre.
In the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen, the emergency operations centre can be reached at 250-490-4225.
Photo: BC Wildfire Service
Evacuees eligible for $200 nightly support
People forced to leave their homes because of the wildfires may be eligible for a $200-per-night accommodation allowance, according to Penticton-Summerland MLA Amelia Boultbee.
Those having trouble accessing the support can call the B.C. Evacuee Helpline at 1-800-387-4258. The helpline is available daily from 7:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Current Regions Under Evacuation Order
Ainslie Creek Wildfire
- Thompson-Nicola Regional District
- Nooaitch Indian Band
- Spuzzum First Nation
Bald Range Wildfire
- Snpink’tn Indian Band
- District of Peachland
- Regional District of Central Okanagan
- District of Summerland
- Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen
Bonanza Creek Wildfire
- Squamish-Lillooet Regional District
Bradley Creek Wildfire
- Okanagan Indian Band
- Regional District of North Okanagan
Brunswick Wildfire
- Fraser Valley Regional District
- Boothroyd Indian Band
- Boston Bar First Nation
- Coldwater Indian Band
Fiftynine Creek Wildfire
- Stswecem’c Xget’tem First Nation
- French Bar Creek
- Stswecem’c Xget’tem First Nation
- High Bar First Nation
- Thompson-Nicola Regional District
- Cariboo Regional District
Pear Lake Wildfire
- Cariboo Regional District
- Squamish-Lillooet Regional District
- Stswecem’c Xget’tem First Nation
- Thompson-Nicola Regional District
- Village of Clinton
- Bonaparte First Nation
- Ts’kw’aylaxw First Nation
- Whispering Pines/Clinton
Quilpituk Creek Wildfire
- Regional District of Central Okanagan
Riley Creek Wildfire
- Squamish-Lillooet Regional District
- T’it’q’et First Nation
Saw Creek Wildfire
- Lytton First Nation
Twin Two Creek Wildfire
- Squamish-Lillooet Regional District
For the latest evacuation orders and alerts, check EmergencyInfoBC, DriveBC and the B.C. Wildfire Service.
