Woman dies in fast-moving B.C. wildfire as thousands evacuate
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police confirmed Sunday the death of an 80-year-old woman who suddenly died while attempting to flee her Meadow Valley home with a member of her family because of the fast-moving fire.
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Flames and orange smoke surrounded a road in Summerland, British Columbia, on Aug. 8, as the Bald Range Fire spread. More than 20,000 people were evacuated as the wildfire burned about 33,651 acres.
Aug. 9 (UPI) -- Authorities in western Canada announced Sunday that a woman died while evacuating her home as several wildfires tear through southern British Columbia, where a state of emergency was declared over the weekend and thousands have been forced to evacuate.
The Bald Range fire, raging south of Kelowna, is one of more than 100 blazes burning in the province, mostly in the south, according to provincial information, which shows 46 were labeled out of control. Nearly four dozen evacuation orders and 51 alerts have been issued.
At 13,618 hectares, the Bald Range fire was among the largest and was labeled "out of control," meaning officials expect it to spread, as of early Monday.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police confirmed Sunday the death of an 80-year-old woman who suddenly died while attempting to flee her Meadow Valley home with a member of her family because of the fast-moving fire.
Though the B.C. Coroners Service will be conducting an investigation to confirm the nature of the woman's death, "police believe her death to be a result of the wildfire," the RCMP said in a statement.
"I am deeply saddened by the news from the RCMP that a woman lost her life during the Bald Range wildfire evacuation," B.C. Premier David Eby said in a statement.
"My heart goes out to her family, friends, neighbors and all those who knew her and will miss her."
The RCMP said the fire was reported to authorities at 5:15 p.m. PDT Friday. About eight hours later, they received a report of a sudden death from a witness in Meadow Valley.
"This wildfire has been a deeply traumatic event for all those in the region," Supt. Beth McAndie, officer in charge of the Penticton South Okanagan Similkameen Regional RCMP Detachment, said in a statement.
"Officers are working closely and providing full supports to the impacted family, who are asking for privacy at this time."
It was the only known wildfire fatality in B.C. as of early Monday.
Eby declared a state of emergency on Saturday. Moreth 12,000 residents of Summerland were under evacuation orders, as were another 8,000 in nearby Peachland.
The extent of the damage from the Bald Range fire was not immediately clear, but Eby said Saturday that "there have been significant losses of home and property."
"To people in affected areas: If you are under an evacuation order, leave immediately," he said in a statement. "These orders are issued to save lives. The conditions of this fire are extremely dangerous and are changing minute by minute."
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