Firefighting crews in the province of British Columbia have failed to contain two wildfire outbreaks, which ultimately merged into one large-scale fire. This was reported by the CBC television network.

According to the province's fire service, the total area of the fire raging in the Thompson-Nicola district has exceeded 66,000 hectares. Dry and hot weather is hampering firefighters' efforts to battle the blaze. Hundreds of residents have been evacuated from the area. At least 20 homes and other structures have burned down. No information on casualties has been reported.

Authorities in British Columbia specified that 145 active fire outbreaks are currently recorded across the region, with nearly 1,000 firefighters and hundreds of pieces of specialized equipment involved in fighting them, including 162 aircraft and helicopters.