RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. Tens of thousands of people remain under evacuation orders across western Canada and the northwestern United States as major wildfires continue to burn, destroying homes, degrading air quality and forcing emergency officials to maintain broad public safety measures.
Authorities in British Columbia have declared a province-wide state of emergency, while firefighters in Washington state continue working to increase containment around some of the most destructive fires of the 2026 season.
The wildfire map from NASA and the U.S. and Canadian Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS) shows that the most significant concentrations of active fires are currently located across British Columbia's Interior, particularly the Okanagan Valley, and eastern Washington near Spokane .
British Columbia alone reported more than 100 active wildfires as of early Monday morning , with dozens classified as out of control.
As firefighters continue containment efforts, officials are warning residents to monitor evacuation notices closely, as hot temperatures, drought conditions and shifting winds could cause fire behavior to change rapidly.
The largest ongoing evacuation effort is centered on the Bald Range wildfire near Summerland and Peachland in British Columbia's Okanagan region.
The fire was first reported on August 7 and rapidly expanded under hot, dry, and windy conditions. In western Canada, more than 20,000 people have been forced from their homes, including the entire population of Summerland and thousands more in and around Peachland.
British Columbia declared a province-wide state of emergency on Saturday, citing the growing threat posed by the Bald Range Fire.
Premier David Eby said “the Bald Range wildfire has grown rapidly as winds intensified, pushing into the Summerland area and affecting communities throughout the surrounding valleys. We know there have been significant losses of homes and property.”
Officials have confirmed that homes and other properties have been destroyed , although a complete damage assessment has not yet been released.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police also reported that an 80-year-old woman died while attempting to flee the wildfire zone, marking the first known fatality associated with the Okanagan evacuations.
In eastern Washington, firefighters are continuing to battle a complex of three major wildfires near Spokane—the Old Trails Fire, Autumn Lane Fire, and Fairview Fire—though containment was improving.
But, as of the latest Incident Command report on Sunday, the Autumn Lane fire was 61 percent contained, Old Trails was 43 percent contained, and Fairview was 43 percent contained.
According to the latest update from AllFirefighter on Friday, the Spokane Complex Fire has burned over 10,200 acres combined, damaging or destroying around 921 structures, and forcing 65,000 evacuations.
Over 1,500 firefighters from across 24 states were deployed in the response.
No wildfire-related deaths have been reported, though thousands remain displaced and many neighborhoods are still under evacuation orders.
Authorities have also charged a Spokane man with arson in connection with the Old Trails Fire, which investigators say sparked part of the disaster.
The smoke generated by Canadian and U.S. wildfires is affecting air quality far beyond active fire areas.
Air quality alerts have been issued across large parts of the western United States as smoke from active wildfires in both Canada and the U.S. degrades air quality.
The National Weather Service (NWS) said on Sunday smoke-related advisories were in effect across portions of Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Montana and Wyoming, with some areas experiencing air quality ranging from "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" to "Very Unhealthy." Many of the advisories were still in effect on Monday morning.
In Montana, state environmental officials reported "Very Unhealthy" particulate levels in Columbia Falls and "Unhealthy" conditions in communities including Dillon, Libby and Thompson Falls due to elevated wildfire smoke. The Montana Department of Environmental Quality warned that smoke concentrations could exceed federal air quality standards and advised residents to limit outdoor activity. According to the alert, vulnerable groups including children, older adults and people with heart or lung conditions face the greatest health risks.
Washington state agencies issued air quality alerts for much of eastern Washington, citing current and expected smoke from regional fires. Officials warned that fine particulate matter, known as PM2.5, could reach "Very Unhealthy" levels in areas directly downwind of active wildfires, while other locations could experience conditions considered "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" or worse.
In Idaho, air quality advisories were issued for dozens of counties because of wildfire smoke. State officials said air quality was forecast to reach "Unhealthy" to “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” levels in parts of Idaho.
Wyoming also remained under widespread air quality alerts, with the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality warning that smoke from wildfires burning across the western United States was reducing visibility and worsening air quality across much of the state. Similar advisories were in place across parts of Oregon, where officials said smoke from ongoing wildfires could push air quality into unhealthy ranges.
Health officials have urged residents to limit time outdoors when smoke levels are elevated, keep windows and doors closed, and use air filtration systems where possible.
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