'We've had a lot of close calls': Canada wildfire evacuees wonder if they still have homes
Residents in British Columbia are facing devastating losses as out-of-control wildfires continue to spread across the region. With thousands under evacuation orders and extreme drought conditions, officials are struggling to contain the fires while managing the humanitarian impact.
Why it matters
The increasing frequency and intensity of wildfires in Canada highlight the growing threat of climate change to residential communities and local ecosystems.
Figure caption, "That fire came so fast": Wildfire rages in British Columbia
Earl Kurz and his wife have lived in Peachland, a town overlooking Okanagan Lake in Canada's British Columbia, for 30 years. In the last 10, he said he has grown used to wildfires threatening his community.
But this is the first time he's been forced to flee, and surveying the damage left behind by the Bald Range wildfire, which broke out on Friday and grew in a matter of hours to 53 sq miles (136 sq km) in size, has been difficult.
"It's total incinerated destruction," Kurz said. "The hot spots are just barren areas of nothing except 12 inches of ash."
Officials in British Columbia are still trying to determine how many homes were lost to the fire, which remains out of control as of Monday.
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