Canada wildfires: Soldiers sent to British Columbia to tackle blazes

Canadian wildfires in British Columbia are to be tackled by soldiers deployed to the region.

About 30,000 households have been ordered to evacuate in the province, where nearly 400 wildfires are raging.

Two huge fires in the Shuswap region merged overnight, destroying blocks of houses and other buildings.

To the south, travel to the waterside city of Kelowna has been restricted, and smoke from nearby fires hangs over Lake Okanagan.

Fires have charred homes in West Kelowna, a nearby city of 36,000.