Wildfires Force Thousands to Evacuate Across Western U.S. and Canada

More than 40 large wildfires are burning across the western United States while over 100 blazes scorch western Canada, all fueled by severe drought that has turned the region into a tinderbox. Thousands have been forced to evacuate as fires rage out of control.

Near Reno, Nevada, the Bug Fire has burned more than 15,000 acres, coming dangerously close to homes and forcing thousands of residents to evacuate over the weekend. In Utah, two pilots were killed Friday when their helicopter crashed while fighting the Widemouth 2 Fire, which has grown to more than 100,000 acres.

In British Columbia, Canada, which borders Washington, the Bald Range Fire burned out of control and nearly doubled overnight. More than 20,000 people were ordered to evacuate the Summerland area, 150 miles east of Vancouver. Some residents had to be rescued by aircraft. “Eighteen of our aircraft were used to rescue more than 50 individuals,” said Ravi Parmar, British Columbia’s minister of forests. Aerial response teams were converted to emergency evacuation personnel.

British Columbia declared a province-wide state of emergency Saturday as more than 100 wildfires burned across the province amid windy weather and prolonged drought.

Last week, fires near Spokane, Washington, showed how quickly conditions can escalate. Blazes there destroyed nearly 1,000 structures. Some evacuations eased Sunday, but the hardest-hit neighborhoods remain closed while crews check for hot spots and remove hazardous materials.

Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels said authorities are doing everything possible to get people back home “as soon and as safe as possible.” Officials have not said when families in the hardest-hit areas can return.

Thank you for your support.

If you appreciate the work we do to spread the good news of Jesus Christ, please consider giving a gift to help us continue this work. Maranatha!