VANCOUVER — Residents in part of British Columbia’s Cariboo region have been forced from their homes after a wildfire more than doubled in size.
Fire information officer Emily Epp says the blaze in the Puntzi Lake area, about 180 kilometres west of Williams Lake, is now about 12 square kilometres in size.
Thirty properties have been evacuated, and other residents are on alert to leave their homes at any moment.
About 190 wildfires are burning across the province, and some communities are blanketed with thick smoke.
Several municipalities are under air quality advisories, including Whistler, B.C., where a high-risk rating has officials saying people should avoid strenuous outdoor activities.
Firefighters from Ontario have joined B.C. crews to help battle the blazes, and Australian crews are expected to arrive soon.