This aerial photo taken on Aug. 18, 2023 shows wildfires at Upper Park Rill Creek, in the South Okanagan of British Columbia, Canada. (British Columbia Wildfire Service/Handout via Xinhua)
The government will ensure that sufficient temporary accommodations are available to those evacuating or involved in fighting fires.
OTTAWA, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Canada's British Columbia government said Saturday it will implement a restriction on non-essential travel to areas affected by wildfires amid its state of emergency.
David Eby, premier of the province, announced the order at a news conference Saturday afternoon to free up accommodations for evacuees. The government has declared a provincial state of emergency as thousands evacuated from their homes.
Members of the Canadian Armed Forces guide people to board a civilian aircraft for Calgary at the Yellowknife airport in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada, on Aug. 18, 2023. (Canadian Armed Forces/Handout via Xinhua)
Under the order, the government is restricting tourist-related, non-essential travel to communities including Kelowna, Kamloops, Oliver, Osoyoos, Penticton and Vernon for anyone planning to stay in temporary accommodation.
The government will ensure that sufficient temporary accommodations are available to those evacuating or involved in fighting fires, Eby said, adding that there are some 35,000 people on evacuation orders across the province and another 30,000 on evacuation alert.
"We have an urgent need for more accommodation," he said.
According to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center, there are 1,039 active forest fires in Canada as of Saturday, around 380 of which are in British Columbia with more than 160 out of control. ■
