State of emergency in British Columbia extended as wildfires rage

British Columbia's government took the unprecedented step on Wednesday of extending a state of emergency by two weeks as it battled 140 wildfires that have forced about 45 000 people from their homes. The province's Premier John Horgan said evacuated households would receive C$600 from the government to cover basic needs for every 14 days they cannot return home. The government announced the first such payment earlier this month after establishing a C$100-million fund.