Canada wildfire kills woman as 20,000 evacuate

An 80-year-old woman died while fleeing her home from the Summerland wildfire in British Columbia, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said, as the blaze forced more than 20,000 people to evacuate.

The fire broke out Friday near Okanagan Lake and had spread to more than 13,600 hectares by late Sunday, when the BC Wildfire Service described it as out of control.

Police said the Meadow Valley resident was trying to leave her home with a family member when she reportedly died suddenly. The RCMP said no other known fatalities had been reported.

Emergency responders airlifted 50 people to safety on Saturday as overnight evacuations were ordered, CTV News reported.

British Columbia Premier David Eby said he was deeply saddened by the death. Prime Minister Mark Carney thanked firefighters and first responders and said the federal government was ready to support British Columbia.

The BC Wildfire Service reported more than 100 active wildfires in the province late Sunday. It warned of a high potential for lightning-caused wildfire starts, especially in the central Interior and the Okanagan, where it said rainfall was limited and dry lightning was expected.

Fires across Canada have burned about 4 million hectares this summer. Researchers at the World Weather Attribution group have said human-induced climate change doubled the likelihood of the extreme fire conditions behind this year's Canadian wildfires.