A state of emergency has been declared after thousands of people were forced to flee their homes as a fast-moving wildfire spread rapidly in western Canada, doubling in size since it was first detected on Friday.

Police said one person has died in the Bald Range fire, which is burning across 53 sq miles (136 sq km) in Summerland and other areas of British Columbia, according to the BC Wildfire Service.

“We have to brace ourselves for the worst,” Summerland Mayor Doug Holmes told Reuters. The Summerland area has been forced to evacuate along with thousands of others in nearby communities.

Officials said flames were so high they had created their own weather systems, which creates lightning.