Wildfire forces thousands to evacuate homes in British Columbia

Smoke from nearby wildfires blankets the city of Edmonton, Alberta. Picture: Jason Franson/The Canadian Press/AP

Canadian authorities are urging all remaining residents in the north-eastern part of British Columbia to leave immediately, despite improving weather conditions, due to a fast-growing wildfire.

The blaze began on Friday and almost doubled in size the following day, reaching more than six square miles, and it is now burning just a few miles from Fort Nelson’s city limits.