By Saturday, more than 35,000 residents were under an evacuation order and another 30,000 were under an evacuation alert. Ministers and government officials urged residents living in evacuation order zones to take immediate action, in the interest of their own lives and that of the firefighters. British Columbia Premier Daniel Eby also imposed a ban on non-essential travel on Saturday, in order to free-up accommodation for evacuees and firefighters. Forest fires are not uncommon in Canada, but the spread of blazes and disruptions underscore the severity of its worst wildfire season yet. The fires have drained local resources and drawn in federal government assistance as well as support from 13 countries.

---

Persons: Columbia Premier Daniel Eby, Krista Flesjer, Kip Lumquist, Denny Thomas, Kim Coghill Organizations: U.S ., U.S . Pacific Northwest, Ministers, Columbia Premier, Authorities, Government, REUTERS Acquire, Thomson Locations: British Columbia, Kelowna, Vancouver, U.S, U.S . Pacific, Canada, New York, U.S . East Coast, Squilax, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Chase, Hope, Lytton, Craigellachie