Thousands flee Canada wildfires

Evacuees talk about their ordeal Two wildfires near a western Canadian city have forced the evacuation of around 17,000 people, officials say. One of the fires near Kelowna, British Columbia, started on Saturday. It quickly grew to 300 hectares (740 acres) and destroyed up to nine homes. A second seemingly unrelated fire broke out on Sunday some 10km (6 miles) away and has already consumed 100 hectares. The cause of the fires are not known. A 2003 fire in the same area destroyed more than 240 homes. 'Difficult conditions' No injuries or deaths have been reported in the latest fires. More than 150 firefighters are battling the blazes, with support from 10 helicopters and eight water bomber planes. Firefighters said they were facing difficult conditions, with more hot and dry weather to come. Local media said human activity was suspected to have sparked the blazes because there had been no lightning storms in the area. Some residents told the Province newspaper that the larger fire may have started near a lumber mill which was also being threatened by the flames. One resident said big, hot embers were falling all around his home. Officials closed down a 19km (12-mile) stretch of the highway leading in and out of Kelowna, which is located 350km (217 miles) east of Vancouver.