Houses are seen overlooking Okanagan Lake as smoke from the Bald Range wildfire blankets the area, in Penticton, British Columbia, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026.
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Canada has put its military on standby to help battle wildfires in British Columbia, where one person has died and thousands have been forced to flee their homes as fast-moving blazes are wreaking destruction. Defense Minister David McGuinty said on Monday that the Canadian Armed Forces are in constant contact with provincial and federal officials and ready to respond if British Columbia formally requested military assistance. The federal government has already approved provincial requests for help with shelter and accommodations. The blaze — known as the Bald Range wildfire — remained out of control after racing toward Summerland and other communities along Okanagan Lake over the weekend, forcing about 20,000 people to flee.
