A wildfire in British Columbia, Canada has forced thousands of residents to flee their homes, prompting officials to declare a state of emergency as the blaze continues to burn out of control. The fire spread with alarming speed, catching many residents off guard, and its rapid growth highlights the escalating wildfire risk facing western Canada amid ongoing concerns about climate change and severe weather.

Officials said the fire had doubled in size since it was first detected on the Friday before, and as of Monday it remained uncontained. Authorities are still working to establish how many homes have been destroyed by the blaze.