British Columbia has declared a provincewide state of emergency in response to “unprecedented” wildfires that have forced the evacuation of at least 10,000 more people late Friday.

Premier David Eby says the situation has “evolved and deteriorated” quite rapidly.

“We are declaring a provincial state of emergency to ensure we have access to any tools that we may need to respond to this situation,” Eby said. “We know that under stressful times, under difficult circumstances, British Columbians rise to the occasions”

“British Columbians are generous, compassionate and resourceful and we support each other, and we’re going to keep doing that work.”

Emergency Management Minister Bowinn Ma says the number of people under evacuation order in B.C. went from 4,500 to 15,000 in the matter of an hour. A further 20,000 people are under evacuation alert.

Ma says a state of emergency allows the province to compel co-operation in the fire fight from “unwilling partners,” although co-operation has so far been excellent.

It will also allow the government to implement travel restrictions to specific areas, though the message right now is to avoid non-essential travel to the Southern Interior.

“At this time, we’re grateful that people are mostly following our call to not travel to certain areas and to stay out of the way of emergency crews so they can do their jobs,” the joint statement from Eby and Ma said.

“We are also seeing more and more people evacuated – and access to accommodation is becoming increasingly tight in the Interior. We need to ensure that accommodation is available for people who are evacuated.”

The state of emergency comes as homes continue to burn in West Kelowna, where the city’s fire chief says a “significant” number of properties were destroyed.

A number of evacuation orders and alerts are also in effect in the North Shuswap, Adams Lake area, as well as in the Village of Chase.

– With files from The Canadian Press