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The emergency declaration goes into effect across the province Wednesday and will provide the government with special powers, for example, to secure accommodation spaces if they are necessary for fire evacuees, or to restrict travel.
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B.C. declares state of emergency due to wildfires, forecasts high winds in southern Interior Back to video
Premier John Horgan’s government had faced mounting pressure from representatives of municipalities, First Nations and the Liberal opposition to declare the state of emergency. Until now, the government had said it was not necessary to declare an emergency to muster resources to fight fires, including fires that threaten properties in the Okanagan.