Thousands flee wildfires in Kelowna area of B.C.

There is a state of emergency in the Kelowna area of British Columbia, where wildfires have forced thousands from their homes

Meanwhile, thousands of others have been told they may need to leave at a moment’s notice.

Officials say a number of structures have been destroyed, but the exact figure is unclear.

There were nearly 380 wildfires currently burning across the province as of Friday morning.

More than 40 per cent of those fires, or 162 of them, were noted as being out of control.

More than a dozen are considered “wildfires of note,” meaning they are highly visible or pose a potential threat to public safety.

(Photo submitted by Sandy Davidson Hunt)

Terrifying night in the Okanagan Valley #BCfire pic.twitter.com/PK95R823jW

— Kyle Brittain (@BadWeatherKyle) August 18, 2023